I will start this like I have seen so many others....I am new the site, I have gotten a lot of good info of these sites over time, but I can't seem to find any more ideas right now.
I have 2000 f-250 with 250,xxx. It is bone stock except for the front leveling kit, and a upgraded air filter.
A few weeks ago, I noticed what seemed to be a grinding/rubbing noise, while driving. I originall thought it was in the front end. I took the front wheels off, and noticed the rotors were some what grooved, but the pads were fine. My boss had a similar situation and had a caliper stick and eventually cook a bearing. I was going to change the caliper, but then I realized that the noise doesn't change when applying the brakes, so I talked myself out of it. I was driving some more, and decide that the nise was probly comming from the rear. I put the rear on jack stands and ran it, and sure enough i heard the noise, so it isn't in the front. The rear end was very hard to turn, until I removed the rear calipers. The rotors had a rust ring around the outside, I thought maybe this was my noise. I cleaned the rotors and cleaned the e-brake shoes and put everything back together, drove it and still had the noise. I only drove the truck maybe 2 miles. Tonight I pulled it back apart, there is dust in the rotor/e-brake drum, like the e-brake is dragging. I put the calipers on the rotors but kept them off the axle (so I could apply the brakes, without blowing the calipers) I again put the truck in gear, I can't tell if the noise is gone or not. There is a noise that sounds like maybe it is around the tranny, but I don't know if that is just because there is no wheels or brakes on the rear end.
I guess after my long winded explination is, can anyone give me any suggestions on things to check? Has anyone ever had an e-brake start dragging on it's own? (I have had the truck for 5 years and never used it)
Sorry this was so long winded, but any help is appreciated.

 

Hello dirtfan99 and welcome to FTE.

What is the condition of the caliper slide pins?

 

The driver side slid pretty easy, but the passenger side, did seem to be kinda stiff. I was going to take it apart and lube them before I put it back together. I was also thinking of taking the e-brake shoes out and eliminate that.

 

Might check differential and transmission fluids too. I had a grinding on the oldest of our fleet some time back that was solved by the addition of some differential additive. (limited slip noise)

 

He may also want to check the outer wheel bearings while he has
the rear brakes apart. See if there is any side play.
Let us know what you find and if you fix it.

Sean

 

Howdy dirtfan, welcome.

On my 2005 Excursion, I had a very similar experience. My noise became painfully obvious as to the cause when the e-brake shoes got chewed up by the rotor when the dust shield backing plates rusted through. The 4 pins that supported the e-brake shoes let go an it was just a matter of time until they came apart. I too never used the e-brake, so I didnt notice it until I was making a turn and the rear started groaning and popping. The popping sound was the brake shoes being broken to bits by the heads of the wheel studs that protrude inside the rotor.
My easy fix was just removing them all together, dust shields(what was left of them) and all.

Keep us posted!

DW

 

Thanks for the suggestions. The transmission fluid is good. I was going to check the transfer case last night, but I found the plug stripped, so I left that for tonights project. I don't remember that being stripped, which leads me to believe I haven't checked it in the five years I have had it. (Not happy with myself about that.) But there are no visual signs of any leaks, so it doesn't worry me as much. The rear end is one other question I had. Last year, I changed the oil in the differential, I can't remember if I put the additive in or not. However, over the summer I noticed I only had one wheel spinning on some wet grass, which leads me to believe I did not. That being said, I had some one tell me to spray it out with brake clean real good, put the additive in, and maybe it will come back. I did this, I really don't know if it came back or not, haven't really tried it. If the clutches are burned up, will they make a noise? But, I also will check the fluid tonight, it should be fine, as I don't see any signs of any leaks around the differential either. The rear axle bearings seem to be fine, but do I need to pull the axles to check them? The axles are still in and there doesn't seem to be any play.
Sorry this is so long again, beleive it or not I am a mechanic, directional boring equipment and trenchers are a bit different than Ford trucks and this has me stumped. The worst part is I have a new camper sitting in the yard and camping season is quickly approaching.
Thanks again for the suggestions.

 

Dont know if this applies, but 2 recent trucks i have/had made a little noise in the rear due to lack of additive for the limited slip, the ford seemed to be worse backing up, the dodge would shimmy on tight turns. Both these seemed to come back to normal with a proper fluid change, the ford with the ford brand additive, the dodge with royal purple.

 

OK I have an update. I went ahead and removed the parking brake assemblies tonight, just to eliminate the chance there is any rubbing there. My backing plates all seem to be in good shape, so that doesn't seem to be an issue. While I was there, I pulled the axles, the bearings there are in good shape, and the differential is full. I did find that one of the slide pins on the passenger side calliper is frozen, I am letting it soak over night, can't get it to move at all. I am hoping this is my problem and it is this simple of a problem. I guess that would explain, if this is the problem, why when I hit the brakes, the noise doesn't change.
One other question I had was, would the limited slip make alot of noise if the clutches are bad? I don't have any popping or clunking, even when I turn, it is a consistant noise, but it does change with speed. If anyone has any other suggestions for me to check while I am at this point, I will listen to any suggestions. Thanks again.

 

Only suggestion I have: consider a descriptive thread title next time. Something as simple as "Grinding/rubbing noise while driving" will at least give people an idea of what to expect and might make more people actually take a look.