I bought another f-250 a few weeks back. This one is a 99 model SD diesel with 105,000 miles. I have put 3000 miles on the truck and have noticed some front end noise. While traveling at low speeds, I have noticed a roaring in the front drivers side hub after i hit a bump and sometimes just after starting off after backing out of a parking space. This noise only last for about 100 yards then instantly goes away. I have read on other forums that this may be that hubs 4wd locking in momentarily (especially after the bump) They said some sort of needle bearing going bad. Any advise?

Also, I notice a vibration in the same wheel when traveling 60mph+. This vibration goes and comes, but is definately noticable.

I am considering going ahead and installing new wheel bearings to try and fix the vibration. Am I on the right track? What other parts in the front end should I replace while doing the job?

 

First think is rotate the tires and see if it goes away, sounds dumb but when my tire get about 3000 miles on the they make a ton of noise pluss it is the cheapest thing to check first. If that does not fix it then have a shop check things out, it is much cheaper to fix it now.

 

I took the hub assemblies off both sides today. The drivers side needle bearings for the axel shaft were toast...the passenger side needles were ok. I am going ahead and replacing the hub assemblies on both side totally while I have them off.....with 105000 on the truck I'm sure its just a matter of time. Oh yeah, the Ford dealership here in Atlanta met the 350 online price of 1stfordparts.com for each hub.

 

got mine at parts america 300 bucks with shipping

 

UPDATE:

The shot needle bearings for the 4wd shaft inside the hub also screwed up the race on the 4wd shaft. Now Ford tells me they only sell that shaft as a unit. I have to buy everthing from the front differential out to the wheel!! List price was $513.00 they are giving to me for $375. If I keep on, I will have a whole new truck one part at a time. (lol)

I would say to you all that it would be well worth your time to do as the factory states and grease these needle bearings (or replace) every 60000 miles.

Im darn glad I was doing this myself, no telling what the labor would be!!!!!

 

Ok guys.....anyone have a detailed "how to" on replacing front drivers side drive shaft? I'm sure it can't be that bad of a job.....but pics always help.

Thanks,
Clay

 

Front driver's side axleshaft I'm assuming is what you are replacing. You need to remove the 4wd hub, the wheel hub/rotor and caliper (dont remove the brake line, just hang the caliper up by a wire so it doesn't dangle by the brake line), and unbolt the spindle from the knuckle, then slide the shaft out through the knuckle (no need to do anything with the ball joints or tie rod). You really only need to replace the outter shaft, the section outboard of the axleshaft u-joint. Since you have a Dana 60-ish axle (the axle contains parts from both Dana 60 and Dana 50 axles in your year), you maybe be able to get just the outter stubshaft from an outfit like Currie Enterprises www.currieenterprises.com or direct from Dana www.dana.com or other axle or 4wd shop in your area. It would be cheaper than replacing the whole inner and outter axleshaft assembly as Ford is hoping you will...

For details and pictures of how to remove and replace the axleshaft assembly, 4wd hub, and wheel hub/rotor, go to your local autoparts store and purchase a Haynes or Chilton repair manual for about 25 bucks or so.

You will need a 4wd hub tool, which you can get at your local autoparts store (looks like a big metal cylinder with 4 nubs sticking out, if your axle is similar to my old Dana 44) and a pair of snap ring pliers will be helpful as well, but not absolutely necessary. You also may want to put some blue LockTite on the spindle bolts when you put it back on. You will need to seperate the inner and outter axleshafts by removing the u-joint and when you put it back together, it's a good idea to just replace the u-joint with a new one from Spicer. You can use a u-joint press to r-n-r the u-joint, or just place the yoke on a block of wood and use a heavy duty (impact) socket just smaller than the bearing cup and a hammer and beat it out. The Spicer Life joints are good and you should grease it before you put it in.

 

I did the whole job this afternoon. I went ahead and replaced the inner and outer shaft (no time to wait on internet parts). Thanks for the feedback.

 

Did you replace those big inner seals?

 

The o-rings or the shaft seals? I replaced the seal inside the differential. Ford did not even have a schematic on the O-rings for my hubs (made 9/98) The one the computer said to use was for the post 3/22/99 manufacture and was way to small. My hubs only had one o-ring also.....not 2 like the newer ones.

 

The 30 dollar seal on the end of the axle..

https://www.ford-trucks.com/contents...20Installation

 

The dust seal and the seal you are speaking of came with the assembly from Ford. So, yes I did.

 

Thats neat it came with it...

 

Damn, I knew I shouldn't have read this post, now I think my truck has a front right bearing or hub out?? It just started to make a clacking noise. I jacked it up and I could get about a 1/4" of play. How difficult a job is it to replace the bearings on a 4x4?

 

Pretty easy..Get a cd from ebay