bearing rumble?
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From: Texas
bearing rumble?
My '04 350 4x4 has a constant rumble that seems to be coming from the front end. After rotating tires, noise is still there. Took it to a shop, they said it was left front wheel bearing--replaced it, noise still there. They put the original bearing back with no charges, but wouldn't do the right side--said take it to Ford. Mileage is 100K.
Since I was also convinced it was a bearing and could swear it was on the left side, I am wondering how do you know if a bearing on these trucks is bad? They are sealed, and neither wheel makes a rumble when off the ground and spinning. Neither hub is hot after driving a long way. The noise is constant, only stopping when the truck is stopped. Engaging 4H doesn't change the noise--left/right turns don't make any noise difference--applying brakes, no change. Also makes no difference what the engine rpms are.
Something is rumbling and sooner or later it will fail--I want to head that off, not really wanting to go to Ford yet. These bearing are big suckers, and you cant see anything in the bearing itself when looking at it off the truck. It is a bearing/hub assembly together and quite expensive.
Any ideas out there?
Thanks.
Since I was also convinced it was a bearing and could swear it was on the left side, I am wondering how do you know if a bearing on these trucks is bad? They are sealed, and neither wheel makes a rumble when off the ground and spinning. Neither hub is hot after driving a long way. The noise is constant, only stopping when the truck is stopped. Engaging 4H doesn't change the noise--left/right turns don't make any noise difference--applying brakes, no change. Also makes no difference what the engine rpms are.
Something is rumbling and sooner or later it will fail--I want to head that off, not really wanting to go to Ford yet. These bearing are big suckers, and you cant see anything in the bearing itself when looking at it off the truck. It is a bearing/hub assembly together and quite expensive.
Any ideas out there?
Thanks.
Last edited by Mud Doc; Nov 3, 2005 at 12:51 PM.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Can you hear the rumble driving very slow such that someone could walk next to you and determine what side is the problem? Might be the right front hub bearing but it could also be a bad u-joint at one of the wheels.
John
John
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jtmerritt;
Thank you--might be possible, but probably the engine noise will interfere. As to the front u-joints, they shouldn't be turning unless the hub is locked. And using the ESOF to put it 4H makes no difference in the noise.
Thank you--might be possible, but probably the engine noise will interfere. As to the front u-joints, they shouldn't be turning unless the hub is locked. And using the ESOF to put it 4H makes no difference in the noise.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 495
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Load bearing rumble only. Have you checked the calipers, pins and the brake clips to make sure the noise isn't coming from the caliper area? This may sound corny but can you find a place where you can get a downhill roll so that you can kill the engine? I have done stranger things trying to locate a noise! 
John
John
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jtmerritt--
thanks for the suggestion--couldn't find a hill, but found a long, long steady curve that I could coast on after getting up to speed. Put it in neutral to lower engine noise while going thru the curve--definite difference on long lefts, none on long right. So went back to the shop, told them to pull the right side and I would pay labor if it wasn't bad. Soon as the wheel was off and could turn rotor by hand, could feel the grinding. Replaced it and all is well. These sealed bearing are hard to tell anything about without it really being bad.
thanks for the suggestion--couldn't find a hill, but found a long, long steady curve that I could coast on after getting up to speed. Put it in neutral to lower engine noise while going thru the curve--definite difference on long lefts, none on long right. So went back to the shop, told them to pull the right side and I would pay labor if it wasn't bad. Soon as the wheel was off and could turn rotor by hand, could feel the grinding. Replaced it and all is well. These sealed bearing are hard to tell anything about without it really being bad.
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