02 SuperCrew 4x4 FX4 pkg., 110K miles on it. About 1K miles ago, I started noticing a noise in the front end, seemingly from the right side of the truck (maybe??). Weak description, I know, but it sounds like I am rolling on big knobby off-road tires. It doesn't feel that way, only sounds that way. (I'm not... I have regular Michelins on it) There is no vibration coming from the wheels (like a balance issue), there is no pulling or tug (like from an alignment problem). The truck has new-ish rotors and pads on it, with no brake vibration or issues. The noise has gotten more noticable over the last 2 or 3 hundred miles. I have had the truck up on a lift and rolled all the tires and driveshafts with no noticable grinding or binding. It is not engine or transmission related... whether the truck is in drive or neutral, the noise is present when rolling. It is NOT dependent on engine or transmission speed, only wheel speed. The noise varies in intensity with wheel speed.
Does this seem like it could be a problem with CV Joints in the front end, or could it be something else? I have tried to feel by hand for any play or wobble in the CV joints when up on the lift, but cannot feel anything obvious. Without tearing the whole front end/CV joints apart, anybody got any ideas on other issues I might look at or address? Oh, yeah, one other "Symptom"... the noise lessens when I turn to the left... not when I turn right, though.

 

almost sounds like hub assembly. they will respond different with the weight of the vehicle on them meaning a person might not think one is bad on a lift but once the whole weight is on it it might make the noise. any way place to start i had similar issues

 

wheel bearing maybe? im thinking also how bout tie rods? with the weight and all....good luck with this one......

 

I would guess hub as well. Usually CV joints really show up on cornering and quiet down on the straight away.

 

My truck started doing this exact same thing. Sounds like I have some worn out mud terrains....I have BFG Long Trails which are fairly mild. My noises are coming from the rear end. At first my traclok wouldn't hold and would start making a clicking noise so I changed the fluid to Royal Purple 75-140 with Ford Friction Modifier. That did help the traclok issue but the noise has progressively gotten worse. I'm about to trade this truck off and be done with it to be honest.