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Jun 17, 2014 | 12:45 AM

#16

OldBlackCat

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2006

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From: Severance, CO

whats the symptoms? wheres she grinding and moaning?

Jun 17, 2014 | 01:07 AM

#17

Lambert01

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Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBlackCat

whats the symptoms? wheres she grinding and moaning?

I hear it coming off the front end and can feel it under my feet.

I'm sure with 250k miles and previous owner who tended to neglect her, I'm sure it is one of the bearings if not something worse. Either way, she will sit and wait till I can put her on jacks and evaluate more.

Jun 17, 2014 | 01:15 AM

#18

OldBlackCat

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From: Severance, CO

luckly the front ends are easy to work on!

lemme know if ya would like a 2nd set of eyes lookin over the EX when ya get to it, im over here in the 818 area code.

Jun 17, 2014 | 03:20 PM

#19

Lambert01

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Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBlackCat

luckly the front ends are easy to work on!

lemme know if ya would like a 2nd set of eyes lookin over the EX when ya get to it, im over here in the 818 area code.

Thanks OBC, I appreciate that. I'll keep you posted here.

Jun 27, 2014 | 02:12 PM

#20

Lambert01

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Hey OBC, I decided to take the Excursion to a Bear Frame and Wheel to have the truck looked at. Just wanted to make sure that I didn't need Ball Joints and U-Joints before tearing things apart. the grinding noise i'm hearing may or may not be coming from the needle bearing but he said i for sure don't need ball joints and ujoints. his recommendation after driving, lifting and tugging and turning everything is that i just drive it. He didn't see anything that warranted a repair and didn't even charge me for the consult. I never engaged 4X4 till today and this being my first 4wd, i didn't know what normal was. he took the time to explain what normal is and sent me on my way.

now at least I can make the next G2G.

Jun 27, 2014 | 06:20 PM

#21

OldBlackCat

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2006

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From: Severance, CO

theirs a simple test to see if the needle bearings are causing the grinding noise you hear.....

if you hear the noise in 2wd with the hubs unlocked or in the "auto" position but then when you lock the hubs manually and leave the transfer case in 2wd does the noise go away?

in my personal opinion and never hearing said grinding noise..... i believe any grinding noise is bad and not normal..... but i would have to hear and locate the noise to make a solid opinion.

in a way i kind of want to recommend a 2nd or 3rd shops opinion on the said grinding noise.

mind you i am no mechanic, this is just a recommendation.....

Jun 27, 2014 | 06:27 PM

#22

Lambert01

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Funny you mention locking the hub. After we tested the 4wd, I left the hub locked and I drove it around like that for a bit. I'm not sure if it is in my head but it does feel better and I haven't heard anything.

Jun 27, 2014 | 06:46 PM

#23

OldBlackCat

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2006

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From: Severance, CO

for me its hard to explain in text here, but ill give it a shot.

when the locking hub is unlocked the needle bearing is rotating around the stub shaft which in theory should not be turning when not using 4x4.

when you lock the locking hub either manually or via the auto lock feature the stub shaft is rotating at the same speed as the needle bearing.

SO! if that particular bearing had problems, you should hear a noise in 2wd but the noise in theory should go away in 4x4.

in my personal opinion the unit bearing design and how the stub shaft goes through it is very stupid and prone to failure.... now i am not 100% sure on this! so take it with a grain of salt as i may be wrong but on older 4x4 front hub systems, the main wheel bearings ran on a hollow snout and the stub shaft ran through said hollow snout....also i believe the stub shaft is ALSO still supported by a bearing, BUT the stub shaft in 2wd sits idle inside the hollow snout and noting is rotating around the stub shaft like the 99-current unit bearing design does....

hopefully i make some sense....