Hello all, I read the post with the squeaking noise. My noise is different. When turning, either left or right, at a low speed whether forward or reverse I get a sound as if the tires are rubbing however I have checked all clearances with the wheels turned (truck is stock 2002 f150). Any ideas?
Thanks ahead, Jim.

 

You probably have a wheel bearing going bad. It will get to the point you believe there is a guy in the cab with a sledge hammer.

 

Thought of that however new brakes and rotors (all 4) during the winter. Garage install, I assume they would have repacked the bearings. Noise was there last summer and again now that it has warmed up and I have the window open I can here it again. It can't be the tires scuffing on the pavement as my driveway is crushed stone but it does sound just like as if you would get too close to a sidewalk and the sidewalls would scuff against the cement.

 

check your Air PSI stats on the door frame and also printed on the tires. Test the air pressure in each tire and don't over inflate the tires but be in the inflation guides. Look at the sidewalls, especially on the back sides. Look for a bulge in the sidewall when it is 45 degrees from the lower or upper position. A bulge is dangerous and the tire will have to go. Also a crack will make the tire unsafe. Look for squirm in the treads and many pinhole air leaks. Do you have a tire underinflated or gently loosing air repeatedly needing aired up. Look to it. Try rotating the tire positions to move the sound to the back. Some brand of tires are noisier but not so terrible. If the tires were on the same position for many 10's of 1000's of miles look to road hop to have caused uneven tire surfaces causing noise drivability problems. The back axle especially tends to hop around a lot on certain road driving conditions permanently messing up the set. There is no real fix for these except new tires. Did you buy rotors with new bearings? Turning hard right or hard left with growling/rubbing vibration noise is either bad bearings or bad CV Joints probably. Are you X2 or 4X4 ? Look more closely for marks of wear.

 

Right thanks for all that. I was going to run these tires out since they wont pass another winter use anyway so I 'll have to wait untill this last gasp of winter air passes and find a flat open space and get my wife to drive while I walk beside to listen. As a last note I should have mentioned the noise seems to be from the rear. My door sticker axle code says H9 which is 3.55 limited slip and is 2 wheel drive. Wondering if the diffy is locking up?

 

Quite often, you can just jack up the front end, one corner at a time if that's easier, and just spin the front wheels/ties by hand. Dry or worn out bearings can sometimes be heard. Yet another use for the 10.00 stethoscope. Very easy then to hear a bad bearing.

Dave

 

Sounds like dried out ball joints that need greased.

2wd or 4wd?

 

I appreciate everyones input but as I stated the noise in in the back. 2 wheel drive, new brakes and rotors and calipers all around, new ball joints, tierods etc, complete. can't tell if the noise is there in the winter with the windows up and the heater on.

 

The e-brake likes to rust and blow apart in the rotors back hub

 

you were close when you said the rear alxe is locking up. You probalby have a LS unit in the back and it will grab at low speed turns. Buy a bottle for friction modifier at Auto Zone for $10. and add it to the differential... works wonders.

 

Take the cover off and clean out the axle, refil and add the friction modifier. It may do it along with shaking and lubing the u-joints. They can get cute, along with the shocks sticking. Do you feel a little bump after when you stop?

 

Man this is tough. I used to be able to rebuild and retune my 67 Fairlaine with my eyes closed and one hand tied behind my back. Now with old age coming on, these long cold Canadian winters, and lately unusualy wet summers it's hard to get anything done and so off it goes to the garage. Drives me nuts having someone else do the work and even though I stand right on top of the mechanic to watch nothing is ever done right. I want to thank everyone for their imput and I gues I'll have to wait now till the weather summers up and have my wife drive while I listen and then start chasing it down. Relubing the diffy is on the top of the list, new shocks (no it dosn't make the sound when I do the bounce test) and unijoints. I will update sometime this summer. Thanks to all. Jim

 

If it is just cranky old tires it may go away or lessen with warmer weather. It's 80 degrees here today. Grand kids are getting antsy to go somewhere. LOL

 

it's not the tires that are getting cranky, last week we had 3 days of summer like temperatures and now today its snowing again and I'm the one that's antsy. Ah well take a deep breath. Jim

 

As the days pass and the weather gets better the problem will become obvious. I wouldn't go on High speed runs with it though. Little shop and stops and it will show itself to you soon. It might actually go away with some good ol stump jumpin, rock crawling, rut bumpen, back road fishen, boat trailer launhcen, Mac attack pit stops French fries and Shakes. If it is inside the axle it will start popping and snapping, jumping and jerking, an pop banging. Easy to test your e-brake, just pull em on a hill and see if they hold you there.