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I have a 86 F150, lowered with beams in the front. Stock springs. Nothing else special about it. I have a very strange clicking, ticking type noise in the front end. Sounds like someone put rocks or BBs in the hubcap like a prank but obviously I've checked that. Its hard to replicate on jackstands and spinning the wheels by hand. If Im going down the road and take a right turn, load shifts to the driver side, the noise is louder on the driver front wheel. Noise changes if I turn left and shifts to passenger side. Clicking sounds like it is about the same speed as the wheels, if I speed up, so does the clicking.
Wheel bearings are new, races are still same from the rotor but no obvious scoring or need for replacement in my eyes. I have noticed that it has changed or one time even gone away completely after I did wheel bearings/brakes. This style brake caliper has the slide pins that keep the caliper in close (Which I HATE this design!!!) Is there a way for me to buy a kit to rid this caliper design without replacing the whole knuckle to a newer style and have to re-do the front beams?
Sorry for the multiple questions but hopefully someone can point me in the right direction for diagnosis.
@Max Capacity - The rotors looked new-er to the truck. Not rusty as most older used rotors will look like after a year or more of being in the elements. And as stated, the races looked perfect. I replaced the bearings and test fitted in the races first. All looks perfectly fine there.
@kr98664 Factory lug nuts. Highly doubt its this issue.
@BigBlue2 I think you may be on to something. I googled that and found the thread below. To my memory, I dont have the clips on my setup. I'll go grab some new pads and clips and try that out first. Cheapest/easiest attempt to throw parts at it haha
I read your post as you replaced the bearings with new ones, but used the old inner race that were in the rotor. I'm no bearing expert, but that is not something, I would think is recommended.
The new bearings and the old inner race will wear at different rates...maybe that's why the noise went away after you replaced them...but came back.
I read your post as you replaced the bearings with new ones, but used the old inner race that were in the rotor...
Ooh, good point. I missed that on the initial read. I was taught never mix new and old parts with bearings. If reusing existing bearings and races, make sure to keep them together as a matched set.
Call me Mr. Vegas, but I'd be willing to gamble your hard-earned money on new bearings and races before digging deeper elsewhere.
Im no gambler either. BUT, in the sake of dollar figures, technically brake pads and clips are cheaper to test first haha.
And the noise went away or changed when I re-packed the bearings. In doing that, I removed the caliper and brakes. So it could be the brakes, maybe?
I'm going to probably do the brakes first for two reasons, theyre cheaper (As mentioned above) and they're older than the bearings. If it still doesnt fix it, I'll do the bearings and races. I'll likely do them anyways since you all bring up a good point but now I have to test them separately to know definitively which one fixed the issue.
If the noise goes away when applying the brake then it's a good chance it involves the brake pads. I don't think lightly touching the brake will eliminate bearing noise. I had the sound you suggested, rocks in the hubcap, but light braking stopped the noise. Replaced the calipers and pads and it went away.
Bearing noise will be a low frequency rumble or growl. I think it probably is the pads clicking in the calipers. Like was said, just lightly touch the brake pedal while still pushing on the gas, if it goes away it's most likely the pads.
I havent attempted hitting the brakes and listening closely. I will have to drive the truck and re-test. This sound is definitely not a typical bearing noise, as you said @Franklin2 . I believe it does go away while braking.
Bearing noise will be a low frequency rumble or growl. I think it probably is the pads clicking in the calipers.
I wonder if it's a combination of the two issues.
I had a front wheel bearing fail on my car and it made the low growl. On a gentle turn, with some side load applied, the noise quieted immediately. Driving in a straight line and no side load on the bearing, the noise returned right away. When I jacked up the front end for inspection, I could not detect any slop but the new bearings definitely cured the problem.
Could be your front wheel bearings haven't failed, but maybe need to be readjusted. If a little loose, they could let the brake disc tip ever so slightly relative to the calipers, and thus cause the noise. Try readjusting the front wheel bearings and see if that helps. Shouldn't require any new parts (other than a cotter pin) or major disassembly.
It's possible the bearings or races didn't fully seat last time they were installed. You did the adjustment procedure properly. But once you actually drive around a bit, the bearings and races finally seat themselves fully and now the adjustment is sloppy.
Was the adjustment process the typical torque to X value while spinning the wheel and then back off so many degrees? Are you positive you have the correct specs for your truck?
Bearing noise will be a low frequency rumble or growl. I think it probably is the pads clicking in the calipers. Like was said, just lightly touch the brake pedal while still pushing on the gas, if it goes away it's most likely the pads.
Sometimes a wheel bearing can fail with hardly any noise until it's too late to avoid damage. When you start to hear anything it's probably hot and about to weld the hub to the axle.. Repacking wheel bearings on the maintenance schedule is a good idea.
