Front end noise!!!
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Joined: Jan 2013
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From: Tx
Front end noise!!!
I have a new to me 2000 7.3 4x4 and recently have been hearing this noise up front, sounds like somethings rubbing (not grinding or howling or a clunk, kinda hard to describe), only happens between 25-30 mph, happens with the hubs locked and unlocked, also in 4 wheel (unrelated, but my AC goes to defrost when I switch it to 4x4, manual hubs though), I now can almost feel it in the pedal/floorboard, very subtle. I replaced the front right hub assembly thinking that was it, took it out for a test drive and the noise is still there. The truck pulled right while braking, but now with the new hub it pulls left. I checked the fluid in the front differential, it was clean and full. There is very very little wiggle in the U joints on both sides. Anybody have something similar or can provide some insight?
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Esko, Minnesota
I would be absolutely positive that it is not the u joints before you do anything else. I chased a similar sound all over on my truck because I was sure it wasn't the u joints. Finally I pulled the rear drive shaft and yes the u joint was tight but one direction it was so frozen that you couldn't move it by hand. A few bucks in u joints a few hours in the garage and a month long goose chase was over.
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Esko, Minnesota
I think mine was issue of only being able to hear it at about the same speed ranges you mentioned. Slower speeds it felt like a very minor vibration and higher speeds it seemed to turn into almost a high pitched howl or whine. One other thing I forgot to mention is to check your carrier bearing on your rear drive shaft unless you absolutely certain it's in the front. That bearing is in a central location and from my experience when it's just starting to fail it can cause some weird noises and vibrations that seem like they are coming from all over the truck. Good luck, Adam
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From: Tx
So I replaced the front U joint on the front drive shaft, still had the noise. It took forever getting the old one out, I'll do a search on carrier bearing replacement on here, mine has quite a bit of play in it. Thanks for the advice, I won't be able to get to replacing it till next week cause I'll be out of town, but I'll let you know if that was it.
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Esko, Minnesota
When I did mine I didn't look
For just the rubber, I got a whole timken replacment from auto zone and I think it was less than thirty bucks. It sounds like your on the right track though, mine had a lot less play than that and was causing all sorts of issues. One other tip, unless you know this already, my 04' was the first carrier bearing that I had ever done that had a bearing retainer on the shaft ahead of the bearing. I used a long heavy flat punch to knock that off and then it was as simple as a big three jaw puller and a piece of pipe to set the new one on the race. If you knew that already sorry for rambling but it was a sticking point for me.
For just the rubber, I got a whole timken replacment from auto zone and I think it was less than thirty bucks. It sounds like your on the right track though, mine had a lot less play than that and was causing all sorts of issues. One other tip, unless you know this already, my 04' was the first carrier bearing that I had ever done that had a bearing retainer on the shaft ahead of the bearing. I used a long heavy flat punch to knock that off and then it was as simple as a big three jaw puller and a piece of pipe to set the new one on the race. If you knew that already sorry for rambling but it was a sticking point for me.
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From: Tx
When I did mine I didn't look
For just the rubber, I got a whole timken replacment from auto zone and I think it was less than thirty bucks. It sounds like your on the right track though, mine had a lot less play than that and was causing all sorts of issues. One other tip, unless you know this already, my 04' was the first carrier bearing that I had ever done that had a bearing retainer on the shaft ahead of the bearing. I used a long heavy flat punch to knock that off and then it was as simple as a big three jaw puller and a piece of pipe to set the new one on the race. If you knew that already sorry for rambling but it was a sticking point for me.
For just the rubber, I got a whole timken replacment from auto zone and I think it was less than thirty bucks. It sounds like your on the right track though, mine had a lot less play than that and was causing all sorts of issues. One other tip, unless you know this already, my 04' was the first carrier bearing that I had ever done that had a bearing retainer on the shaft ahead of the bearing. I used a long heavy flat punch to knock that off and then it was as simple as a big three jaw puller and a piece of pipe to set the new one on the race. If you knew that already sorry for rambling but it was a sticking point for me.
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From: Tx
Sorry it has been so long, had to unexpectedly go out of town for a few days. I replaced the carrier bearing, no go. I still hear the noise. While I was doing it, I jacked up the rear and ran the truck up to the speed it makes it, and heard nothing, so it only makes it under load. Also, if the truck is making the noise, and I brake to slow down, the noise goes away as long as the brakes are depressed. I noticed some very mild play in the shaft at the transfer case, but minuscule, very hard to notice. The noise sounds to me like a bearing going out, but I don't have a lot of experience either.
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Esko, Minnesota
Well first off sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase, but it sounds like you've got it nailed down to the front end. The bearings and u joints on the front axel shaft would be the next most likely suspects. You already replaced one hub assembly and its no fun just throwing parts/money at somthing and hoping for the best, so I guess the next thing I would look at is the u joints, if they are not wiggling by hand try and get a good size pry bar against the u joint and the axel tube and see if you can make it move/wiggle. Some are just too stuck to move by hand. Good luck, chasing down somthing like that can be very frustrating maybe one of the other gurus here will chime in.
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From: Tx
No worries, I really appreciate the input. Finding a damn puller long enough to reach that bearing was tough though, ended up having to rig one up myself. I just can't figure it out, everything seems really tight down there...
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Mt. Shasta California
Forget about the front diff, they never go bad unless they are full of water or out of oil plus it just sits there while in 2wd (same goes for the front U-joints). The fact that the noise goes away while braking and it is the same in 4wd are big clues. Look for things that would change while braking, like the brakes themselves, or the wheel bearings. Put it in neutral and brake when it does it. Jack it up and shake the front wheels vertically to check the bearings.
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Esko, Minnesota
I believe the front u joints in the axel shaft turn all the time, right?
The needle bearings in the hub assembly is a good idea, although one should have been new when you replaced the hub assembly.
The needle bearings in the hub assembly is a good idea, although one should have been new when you replaced the hub assembly.