I have spent many many hours searching previous posts and cannot find any with my set of problems. Here they are:

1. For a while I have been hearing a short grinding noise when I go over some bumps. Not all bumps, and some bumps will cause the noise one day but not the next. The noise only occurs while the truck is bouncing from the bump; once the supsension is back to normal there is no more noise. Very intermittent (once a week, if that).

2. Even less frequently, I'll be going down a hill that has a slight turn to the right. With the brakes applied and the truck turning, it feels/sounds like a whining noise from the front left. I was originally thinking that the front left wheel bearing/hub assembly is bad, and the extra load from the right turn is stressing that corner??

3. Brand new, has happened 3 times in the last 2 weeks. When braking fairly aggressively from about 55mph, it will make an awful groaning/grinding noise that does not stop until I'm able to let off the brakes. Tried to duplicate it without success after the first couple of times.

4. When turning left tight and at slow speeds (think maneuvering through parking lots designed for hybrids), there will be a really fast clicking/vibrating sound that goes away when I straighten out. Does not happen all the time. Best description I can think of would be like doing a drumroll with your mouth. I've never heard it during right turns.

Give me your best info/advice so I can set aside some holiday $$ for the parts! Keep in mind also that none of the 4 symptoms happen all the time or are easy to re-create, which is making troubleshooting from the driver's seat a real PITA!

Thanks,
-Chris

 

Bump.....

Any input/help would be appreciated for any of the symptoms.

Thanks,
-Chris

 

it hasn't broke yet so i don't think we can help you fix it .i don't recognize the problem, maybe a tech will chime in?

 

Feel free to contact me if you ever need something, I'm about 8 miles west of Leander. I'll be more than happy to PM you my contact info. No offense to the fine upstanding folks here but you'll probably get more responses in the 99-03 7.3 forum.

 

First of all, most of us probably don't have any more of a clue than you yourself might have. By some of your specific and detailed descriptions it sounds as though you have a pretty good insight from a mechanical background and you know your truck better than any of us. Unfortunately noises can be difficult to diagnose especially if their intermittent.

Many of the noises you describe can be produced from many different areas.
I think you should go a bit further to investigate. Produce other scenarios to try and narrow your problem.

Try to better isolate the problem of when it happens, day or night,cold or hot etc.. try every scenario to repeat or eliminate the noise (put in 4wd, hubs locked, unlocked, lower and higher speeds, etc..)

Don't forget worn or even new bushings can cause various noises as well.

From #1 it could be shock or spring related because of the up and down variation mentioned and could be a form of a sqeak that may sound like grinding and may only do it possibly because of temperature and/or humidity.

Most quality mechanics will completely inspect your front end to make sure all components are in good order and torqued properly for little or no money. If all looks good you can also try spraying a couple areas at a time with lubricant to narrow it down and maybe it will change the noise patterns.

 

Think hub bearing.... mine has been doing the same thing with an added vibration since around August and I have narrowed it down to that as of today...check out autopartsdirecttoyou they have a lifetime guarantee...