So, my X is making a lot of racket all of the sudden, and I was able to determine it was coming from the front left wheel area. I walked next to it while wife drove real slow and turned wheels in forward and reverse. Kind of a growling, rolling popping sound. I figured it was the wheel bearing. When I got the tire off, I found a LOT of side to side/up and down play in the 4x4 locker. Took off the rotor and locker, and the play is even worse when grabbing the end of the spindle. It basically makes circles if you grab it and make it. Looking to the back side of the steering knuckle, the axle shaft is all kinds of sloppy back there where it goes into the axle tube/differential. The u-joint is moving all over the place when I am manipulating the end of the axle spindle. I pulled the hub, and they are Timkin. NO issues with the bearings that I can see/feel. There was plenty of grease in there, too. Lots of oil seepage/dirt around the differential where the axle comes out to the u-joint.

My question is...which bearing crapped out on me? The inner spindle bearing? With all this play, is my locker ruined trying to hold it all still out there on the end? Looking for experienced minds to lend me some knowledge. I hope the problem is not in the differential itself. The truck does not see 4x4 much. I bought it 20k miles ago, and the previous owner was a soccer mom. I am comfortable doing the work once I know EXACTLY what the issue is.

 

First off if your x is making noise and "growling" when your wife drives her you have the antithesis of problems. I suggest joining. Trust me.





Yes, it sounds like a bearing issue. The sealed bearings are common problems on Fords and are not difficult to change. I would not expect any other internal damage providing you havent been driving it like this for 6 months

 

I was going to suggest moving to the passenger side or back seat for shaft play - more room.

Then I decided to delete what I typed because King Tom would be a meanie head to me.

 

With a title like this thread has in the off road/4x4 forum we all knew where

this would head.....

 

I heard you guys were a bunch of barbarians down here. Now I know it is true... Now get your minds out the gutter and help a brother out with some GOOD advice on the issue...

 

their minds are NOT in the gutter.
they live in the woods, so there are no gutters. their minds are in the septic tank.

i would have to agree with Kris. it sounds like the bearing assembly is bad.

 

yeyeyeyeyeyeye live action!

 

Why didnt u guys mention the bearing that the outer shaft rides on. Older vehicles it's called spindle bearing. Lol

 

cause his ex ain't got one of them ya window licker!!!

he got to keep that bearing in the divorcee settlement

 

Damit Tom!

Them snozberrys taste like snozberrys.













He has this thread in the excursion form too.

 

RAAAAAAAAAAVVVVVVVENNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! !!

BAGAAAAAAAAAAAAWK!

 

Glad the Ravens finally won one.

I removed the hub and stub axle. The small needle bearing in the hub that axle rides on was OK, which is the one I was thinking was going to be bad. It turns out it is the larger bearing AROUND that smaller bearing (within the hub assembly) that failed. The one you can service by removing the ABS sensor. My inner seal looks OK inside the axle tube. I think I caught the problem before it took that out. Gonna put it back together after I get some sleep. The hub was a Timkin, too....

 

Seems like i told you it was most likely the sealed bearing in the second post

 

oh stop being a know-it-all!!!

 

Yes, you did. Much appreciated!