Onset was sudden. I was hauling about 800lbs of steel and heard a light thunk and a mild screetching noise from front axle area. this sound dulled immediatly to a rub rub rub rub (that rythmic sound we all know and love) after emptying the truck I found that it was loud on R turns and went away on L turn but slight on a straight line.

I concluded it must be the left front wheel area . Upon teardown and inspection I found the adj nut cage was distored slightly so I dropped $50 and replaced it. I replaced the caliper/pads as it needed that anyway. When the rotor was removed I inspected and repacked the bearings and they looked very good , cage intact, no pitting/heat discoloration. The hub had no metal filings in the grease, so everything looks ok, I reassemble w/new grease, adj nut and caliper/pads....test drive, noise still present, I tear down again to re inspect and still everyting looks good, I try several different adjustments. My efforts have not made a significant difference here the noise is present regardless of hubs locked or free. It sounds and feels like wheel bearings, I have never seen bearings look so good and make this noise.... so Im stumped and near broke, any ideas before I throw more $$ at it. What else could be making this distinctive melody. Any ideas greatly appriciated.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Tony Burke
86 F250 4x4 IFS 460 4sp T19
man. hubs, shes all stock

 

are your hubs unlocked? does it make noise if you go over a bump or somthing?

 

U stated that u checked the left wheels, so now go check the right. It could be the wheel bearings on the right side and just sound like its on the left.

 

I believe this to be left side because I can hear it and the right turns bring about the noise (weight of the truck on the left wheels. Hubs locked or unlocked makes no diff in the sound. Bumps make no difference for this sound either. Turning right, sound on the left and slightly in straight line. Im still stumped because the obvious usual things to check seem fine.

 

I'd start with replacing the bearings. They can look OK and still be no good. It only takes one bad spot on one roller in the bearing assembly to make noise.

 

Because of the noise I expected to see the inner bearing mangled. the way it happened sounds like something definatly broke rather than gradually wore out.

Tomorow I will pull it apart again and check the hub casting and rotor its self since its a bit thin, maybe it cracked. if I cant find any other issues w/it I will replace the bearings. It could be anything, it actually gets used like a truck. It will be interesting to see what it actually is... and shocking if its actually the bearings.

 

OK, here it is. I have replaced inner and outer bearings and races, rotors, calipers and pads on BOTH sides and adjusted them to spec. The hub castings look good, wheels look ok... WTF could it be.... the rubbing is still present and definatly from the left front. If I turn sharp sharp enough at speed I can feel it to..but damn if I can find the source. I am truly stumped... no difference w/hubs locked or unlocked.

 

Going out on a limb here and risking my reputable neck to the smarter ones in the crowd. Have you checked to see if the brake rotor backing plate is warped/bent in toward the rotor? From what I have read, you have pretty much covered everything else. It doesn't have to actually touch the rotor while sitting still to rub the rotor, even slightly, when rolling down the road. The centrifugal forces on the wheels and tires introduce enough torque to help provide contact on the backing plate.

 

I found it.....damnit. It was the rim. I guess Ill be throwing the 16.5"s on since I have 4 white spoke versions of those... I have never seen a steel rim come appart like this.... its really pretty cool looking. Thanks for the advise, this has been a learning experience. I guess I wasnt quick enough to think outside the box.

Tony Burke
86 F250 460 4sp 4x4

 

i want pics

 

I ditched the rim already....it went down w/the rest of my scrap metal....it had a hairline crack from a studhole about 4"outward toward OD of inner part of rim. The studholes were also pretty distorted/lugnuts worn beyond servicablility. I should have grabbed a pic. I have seen this before but never heard it make noise like this one did.

Tony Burke