Hum/vibration when turning

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Jan 28, 2021 | 08:18 AM

gg1968

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Mountain Pass

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Hum/vibration when turning

I just replaced my 97 F250 4x4 front inner/outer wheel bearings. I’m getting a hum/vibration when turning right. It is worse on an “inclined” turn. If I swerve left to right, I can hear it as well. The original bearings looked ok, but swapped them anyways. Problem still persists.

Jan 28, 2021 | 09:39 AM

jas88

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From: Greater Austin, Texas

So you were having this noise before replacing the bearings? Did you also replace the races?

Jan 28, 2021 | 10:04 AM

gg1968

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I (embarrassingly) admit that I didn’t replace the races. The ones in there looked totally smooth and fine. I could be the races that are bad, even though they are perfectly smooth?

Jan 28, 2021 | 10:09 AM

SFaulken

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gg1968

I (embarrassingly) admit that I didn’t replace the races. The ones in there looked totally smooth and fine. I could be the races that are bad, even though they are perfectly smooth?

Lots of guys do it, but I don't. Always replace the cups and cones as a set. It's entirely possible that I'm all wet, but if the cones are worn out, the cups have usually "mated" themselves to the bearing pattern of the worn cones, and putting new cones on used cups usually A) Is going to howl and grind like a big dog, and B) is going to wear out your new bearing cones much faster, and possibly just wipe out the cups. Just not something that I take a chance on to save a few bucks.

Jan 28, 2021 | 11:47 AM

Conanski

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

Sounds like a bearing problem but just to rule it out.. the front hubs aren't locked in are they?

Jan 28, 2021 | 03:41 PM

gg1968

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Hubs are NOT locked. I guess if the hubs are free to move and in 2WD mode, it can’t possibly be the spindle bearings?

Jan 28, 2021 | 03:50 PM

jas88

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From: Greater Austin, Texas

You should turn your half shafts and your driveshaft by hand to make sure your hubs are not locked via a mechanical failure internally, even tho they are not "visually" locked.

You gotta replace the races and the bearings together, IMO.