first off I would like to greet everybody... I'm new to the site, but not new the the idea, I did own a chevy, but decided I wanted to try something new so now a few months ago I got an 05 F-250 FX4... with the 5.4 3v shoulda got the diesel..

so the reason I'm writing this thread up is because i'm having some problems with I believe to be the front hub assembly's/bearing, I'm hearing a winding noise that gets louder the faster that i drive, jacked it up and tried to find some play in either side and no luck.. so i"m curious to if it's even the hub or not.. the only other thing that i could think of would be the u-joints but they seemed to be fine... also I know that the ABS sensor is located on the up for two wheels.. which just happens that, a few weeks ago my ABS light comes and off as it pleases, and sometimes when I have to slam on the brakes it kicks in even though I'm on dry smooth asphalt, and some times when I'm going slow or turning in a parking lot and idle speed or so, not even touching the brake pedal the ABS engaged for no reason... now... I've thought about this, and my only thing I can think of is replacing the hub assembly which would in turn replace the sensor for the abs on that side, BUT it's also arounda 400 dollars part that I won't want to replace if it's not going to help the situation... and I've only at the truck for a few months so I haven't had the oppertunity to learn enough about it to know what type of stuff goes out on it that is common... I do know that if i'm not mistakin the hub assembly gets replaced at 100,000 miles... I got the truck with 122,000 and not sure if the guy before me did it... seems like he took care of the truck.. but just drove on the high way a lot... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..

-thanks in advance fella's

 

The sensor can be replaced on it's own, just did one a few months back I think I was less than fifty bucks, let us know.

 

hmm.. i didn't realize on the newer trucks that only the sensor could be replaced I'll look into that, what about the winding noise.. think it's the bearing/hub assembly?

 

The factory hub assembly is a sealed non greaseable unit which goes out all the time. Start by jacking up the truck and rotating the wheel by hand , feeling and listening for grumbling noise in the bearing. It would be better if it was put on a lift for inspection first. Get a high quality premium hub assembly and stay away from the cheapos.

 

Jack it up and pull the tire off. If the hub doesn't unlock, that's the first clue, but if the hub unlocks and you can feel any holdup/gridning/unevenness spinning the lugs by hands, it's the bearings. Apparently they can be ruined by something as simple as beating a brake rotor off with a hammer, so damage there might be highly likely if the last owners or their mechs. were lazy.

While you're at it, get a pry bar and check the balljoints, then check the tie rod ends, sway bar links, and the vacuum lines going into the hub. All are common wear parts on the D60 front end, might as well make the thing bullet-proof for another 100k while it's apart.

And especially check the slide pins on the brake calipers, those are notorious for seizing up on SDs, and unbalanced pad/ rotor wear might cause one side to grab harder than the other when you slam the brakes, maybe even bad enough for the ABS to kick in.

 

All good advice about the hubs, but the grinding could simply be the abs staying on for no reason like stated in the op. A simple thing to try is just unplug the sensors from each side and swap them and see if the noise goes away or changes sides, replace the rebel sensor and you might have it. Then search wheel bearing lube procedure and you can lube your "non-servicable" bearings through the abs sensor hole in the hub and continue on your way, good luck.

 

well guys.. I appreciate all of the advice.. although the whinding noise that I hear gets louder the faster I go.. so I doubt that it would be anything having to do with the tie rods, nore the ball joints... I'm really thinking it's the bearing.. but I can't find any play in it.. when I jack 'er up and rotate the wheel it's quiet, atleast to my ears it is.. and still no play... so I"m really jsut stumped.. also.. I forgot to mention in the above, I also lose brake pressure.. but it doesn't go completely to the floor.. but close... and I'm about 85% sure thats it's not because of my brake booster or master cylinder going out... also 4 wheel goes in and out just fine.. not sure if the auto works.. never really got that.. guess it works on a vacuum to my understanding.. but if i use 4 wheel then i just get out and lock the hubs in manually.. alright well I'm going to double check this weekend on everything.. maybe it's gotten bad enough in the last few weeks that I can see more noticable signs of something wrong... any other suggestions will be takin' into consideration.. oh.. and also.. rebel sensor? never heard of it.. thanks in advance guys

 

Take a look at the speed sensor built into the rear of the hub and see if the ribs are rubbing against something......

 

I'll check that.. although I'm almost positive it's coming from the front end.. I can feel it in the steering wheel after I get up to speed

 

well we had a nice day today, so I took some stuff apart, and didn't notice anything except that it takes more force to turn on hub, then it does the other, seems like it's retricted and didn't move as freely at all as the other side.. so I went ahead and ordered the new hub assembly... can't pick it up till monday, but I'll be sure to let you guys know if thats the problem... and if it's not then, well I give up, cause I have no clue.. but I was messing around and when the 4 wheel isn't ingaged, the only thing that really rotates or moves, is the hub, so to me.. thats got to be it.. thanks for the help

 

Did you find your problem?? To eliminate the locking hub....just take it off. Take the big snap ring off and pull out the outter part of the hub. If it still makes noise you know its not the hub. You buy a less expensive bearing hub at OReilly's....$115.00 complete with ABS sensor. If it turned out to be the locking hub,,,Milemarker has a set for about 159.00.

 

You can pull the ABS sensor, and pump some grease down into the hole. Several people have done this. Search on here for it. One guy made a special adapter, although I am not sure it was needed.
If this eliminates the noise, you will know the bearings are getting dry.

 

hey guys sorry took so long to reply... i got' er fixed though, I installed the new hub assembly on the left side which I thought for sure from the noise, vibration in the steering wheel, and slightly harder to turn the the right side that that was it.. so sure enough I swapped them out, and nothing.. didn't fix it.. so a month later or so..(a few weeks ago) I decided.. well since the hub on the left side that I replaced obviously isn't the problem, then I"ll use it to replace the right side.. and finally over time as soon as a felt it after it was off the ground it had finally wore enough, I could feel the play, so I swapped them out, and everything is good now.. didn't use the sensor from the left side though, I think thats what was messing with my abs, so all is good.. thanks for all the advice guys... I was just being partial, and didn't open my eyes to the other side, where the problem actually was...