Hi I noticed on my 03 excursion on both sides of the front axle there is a circle platic o ring behind the u joint that is lose ? Nothing is leaking and no signs of leak marks ever. Kind of looks lik a spacer ring of some sort because its atleast 1/8th inch thick plastic. Also some time ago I posted about a whistling noise but never got a answer but its only there when im in 4wd there is a whistling noise from my right side and my locking hub when I turn it the hub seems lose and has a crunchy feeling to it. Any info would help just bought it a few weeks ago and now im running into a whistling noise and noticed theres a piece of plastic that looks like a spacer

 

I think that is a shield to keep crap out if the front unit bearing seals. And the whistling noise you hear is more than likely from the seal in the front hub. When they get dry they will have a squeel!

 

Those are dust shields that often fall out, including mine. A whistling is hard to detect unless you are there, you would have the best chance of finding that one.

 

Ok is the dust shield fine to fall out its not leaking ? Also are you talking the manual locking hub seal that has a vacuum to it to auto lock ? Its coming from the drivers side front and only whistles when in 4wd when in 2wd it doesnt whistle

 

Also rhe whistling is tough to find because it only happens well moving anyone have ideas how to test a locking hub to see if its bad

 

There is nothing to leak out , the axle seals are way down inside the axle tubes close to the pumkin and they seal the gear oil. I would bet 90% of those dust seals are just dangling there...

 

well the dust shield on the drivers and passenger side behind the u joint is just hanging there i can actually spin it around... is that something i have to replace immediately or is it not necisary

 

No you don't, 90% of the trucks on the road have a seal that looks just like that, it won't hurt anything. If you have to get in there to fix something else then yes replace it, but not worth it just for that. To check your locking hub just take them off, it's very easy to do and you don't even have to take the wheels off to do it. They may need a good greasing, if you have auto locking hubs you should also check if your vacuum lines are good. Here is a write up on it...

This says its' for a 4x4 diesel ford but they are the same as Excursions.

Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Autolock Hub Lubrication Maintenance Web Page

 

thank you sammie i have checked the vacuum lines to see if there is a leak and have not found a leak and they lock and unlock fine when in auto and lock fine with the hubs placed in full lock.... i will pull that side out tomorrow to grease it... is it a possibility that the whistle could be coming from the manual lock because its only when it is in 4wd that im getting this and cruising around 25 to 30 mph after that it goes away... im not to concerned just the whistling is annoying as can be

 

Are you sure its not a brake pad making the noise ??

 

it doesnt sound like a brake pad whistle it sounds more like a vacuum whistle like someone shoved a whistle under my truck but only does it in 4wd

 

Check all your vacuum lines associated with the 4WD, and someone said the dust shields in the axle tubes get dry and squeal.

 

So check the dust shield ? Someone was saying that the plastic o ring the is between my u joint and axle housing is the dust shield that normally breaks off... is there anyway of thowing some lube in there to make it less dry so it doesnt squell or do you have to replace them all together

 

Isn't the greatest picture because I don't have my CD handy so this may not be your exact Axle but it gives you a genera idea. "RED" is the dust shield EXV10 is referring too, BLUE is the seal (aka Dust Seal) in front of the U joint that people are saying "don't worry about"

 

So exv10 is talking about the metal dust shield ? How would that make a whistling noise ? Also I see the blue seal you are talking about but there is another plastic rang hanging by the other u joint between the u joint and the actual axle housing which looks like it would be a spacer ring of some sort because its solid plastic...