Front Main Wheel bearings

MikeRocks · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 09:34 AM

Alright, I just put 315's on my 03 F250, and replaced my ball joints, all was good and quiet at first, but now I am getting a loud hum out of the front end (not sure which side?).

I figure that the main bearing must be going out. Is there any way to just replace the front bearings or do I need to replace the whole hub assembly (which my wife will certainly not be thrilled about)?

Thanks!

texans · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 10:08 AM

I take it you are driving a 4x4. If so then as far as I know you have to replace the whole asyembly

brian42 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 01:54 PM

What kind of a hum

? Your big tires will probably hum (depending on the tread pattern). Is is a grinding? Is it more pronounces at any specific time (accelerate, brake, turning)? Please be as specific as possible and we'll try to get to the bottom of it

!

I just did my ball joints not too long ago and did not experience that. All I got was some moaning and groaning as the ball joints broke in, but all is good now

.

MikeRocks · #4 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 03:59 PM

yes its a 4x4...

and the tires didn't make much noise at all when they were first on, now the "hum" gets louder as I accelerate, but isn't that bad over 65mph. the sound doesn't change at all on asphault or concrete roads.

I stuck my head out the window and couldn't notice the hum, plus I don't hear it bouncing off any walls or anything that I drive by.

There is a vibration that I feel through the floor and through the steering wheel as the noise gets louder, but it also goes away at higher speads.

I have the new Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs (put on 2 months ago) and haven't lifted the truck yet, so for a while I thought that it was the tires wearing in and making more noise because they are tucked in the wheel well pretty good, but since it is getting louder each day, I figure it must be the bearings...

I changed the ball joints when I got the tires and started to notice the sound about 3-4 weeks ago.

hope this helps.

Thanks,
Mike

edit: Oh yeah, it sounds like I am running super swampers, but with a grinding feel in the truck. it gets pretty loud, but not outside.

MikeRocks · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 11:23 AM

update:

well changed the hubs out and to my surprise, the loud "hum" is still there... with 156k they needed to be changed anyways.

Now the question is what is the noise?

could it be from the new tires (they do have a pretty aggressive tread and sidewall) since I haven't lifted the truck yet? They are 315's on the stock suspension 4wd F250.

I also thought maybe I had a slight alignment problem, since they were quiet when I got them and then they started to get louder after a couple hundred miles. But the od thing is, is that the noise doesn't change with the road surface, even on dirt roads.

brian42 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 11:53 AM

The Duratracs definitely have a more aggressive tread pattern. Even though they have the staggered center section that reduces road noise, I'm sure that they are not quiet.

With the sound being more of a constant droning (and without hearing it first hand), it sounds to me like road noise from the tires.

I hear you on the hubs. I changed mine at 185K. Even though they had some life left, they'd lived a good life and it was time to retire them to be my spares. No reason to tear everything down and not put new stuff in there.

Not to be completely off-subject, how do you like the Duratracs? They are new and have not read much about them (especially on our front-heavy trucks). I almost bought a set, but changed my mind at the last minute last week.

senix · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 03:08 PM

sounds like the tires to me. Anytime you run a more aggressive tread than what was there you are gonna have more road noise.

jlmotox · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 03:44 PM

I have noticed that tires will get louder once they start to wear down...

have you ever had a truck with all terrain tires? they are not quiet like the stock tires but not loud like a mud tire...

brian42 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlmotox

I have noticed that tires will get louder once they start to wear down...

have you ever had a truck with all terrain tires? they are not quiet like the stock tires but not loud like a mud tire...

I never really noticed any road noise from my Pirelli Scorpion ATRs (not like you can hear much above the cackle of the injectors

), but over the last few months I have begun to hear them (I've got 42K on them). I'll have to compare them to the BFG MT KM2s when I put them on this weekend...

Y2K1TON · #10 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 05:07 PM

Find 2 wheels and tires to put on the front only temporarly to eliminate the 315's as making the noise. Do ya have a used tire shop around and some spare rims? If the noise goes away with different tires then it was the 315's making the noise.

EXv10 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 07:33 PM

Even trying your spare should tell the story.

FireMe · #12 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 10:09 PM

I have also seen many people mistake a rear hub bearing noise for a front one, even well experienced people.

Worth checking out and costs nothing.

Jay

EXv10 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 10:29 PM

+1 on the above.

nitrogen · #14 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 11:06 AM

rotate your tires my tire guys suggest about about every 3-4k miles for aggressive mudders to keep them wearing evenly and to get the most life out of them. it can add an additional 10 20 k miles to tire life