Well it was a very warm day yesterday here in WV and I was driving with my windows down and as I pulled into the alley (fenced on both sides) I heard a loud clicking noise coming from the front driver side wheel. I stopped backed up and listened again, the clicking got more rapid as I went faster. I then proceeded to jack the front driver’s side up and spin the wheel. When I did this I heard the clicking noise coming from the hub area. I put my hand on the back of the rotor shield and could feel a vibration that corresponded to the clicking noise. I did this on the passenger side also but the noise and pulse wasn’t quite as bad. I forgot to mention that when I put it in 4X4 mode the noise went away. I am thinking that it is the wheel bearings that have went bad. The truck is a 2000 f-250 4X4 with 91000 miles on it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanksfficeffice" /><O></O>

Adam <O></O>

 

Sounds like it

Is it possible that maybe one of the hubs was still locked in? ESOF or manual? make sure the hubs are both unlocked and listen again.

Tom

 

one of my hubs is locked in even though its in the auto postion

 

That may explain the clicking noise. Can you unlock both?

Tom

 

Yeh I had a similar problem with mine. That clicking noise might be the axle moving around in the hub. To check it simply try to wiggle the axle shaft around. If you see it moving inside the hub seal you need to take the hub off and put new bearings in. Its like $20 for both sides and worth the time. If these bearings get to bad you will be buying new axle shafts and possibly a hub(gets expensive real quick). I just got done tearing my passenger side apart, and I am now waiting for a new stub shaft, and hub. I thought it was a locking hub too, but it wasn't. I'd would of rather spent $20 then $200. So I would check them bearings right now. Even if they aren't bad you should pull the hub off and grease them.

 

A rock in a hubcap will drive you crazy...at least it did me for about a week.

But it sounds like you need to turn the dial on your hubs from Auto to Lock a few times to free things up. Maybe even remove them and clean them.

Also as gungho stated, if the axle shaft moves around in that needle bearing, located on the rear of the hub assembly, it needs replacing.

 

thanks for all the great posts.
i checked to see if the axle moved around in back of the hub assembly and it didnt move (both sides). i then went over and check my neighbors truck also a 2000 but with a 140000 miles and his were just like mine. we jack his up to see if it made any noise when spinning off the ground and nothing. maybe i have caught the problem so early that the bearings havent quite deteriorated to nothing yet.
tom- i have tried everything to get the passenger side to unlock but i just cant see to get it to free up. that might just be the problem. maybe i should just remove the hub and drive to see if the noise goes away.

if not how much is it to have a shop do the work for me. i really dont have any time this week to do it. thanks again

 

Sounds like the inner spindle bearing is dry - this bearing is inside the big wheel-bearing sealed unit, where the axle rides.

Can you turn the axles by hand? Reach around back and try to turn the u-joint. If the hubs are unlocked, they should turn pretty easily. If they don't move free, and turn with the wheel even in 2-wheel, that bearing is toast, and possibly the axles.

If the axles turn but you can feel what feels like sand in it, or it hangs up as you turn it, same thing, that inner spindle bearing.

Ford won't sell just the bearing, you have to buy the entire sealed unit (expensive). The needle bearing is available seperately, National/Federal # is B-2110 on the '99-'04 - not sure about the '05 and up, but still replacable, just got to get a number off it when you take it apart.

Of course, it could be just the hub though... but I seriously doubt it.