Newbie Tech Info Needed
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4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Newbie Tech Info Needed
I have a '03 F350 DRW. Even when I haven't used 4WD in a while I still will flip it on to lube everything up front. Three years and I haven't had any issues with it. Untill 2 weekends ago. I went to Pismo Beach and as soon as I put it in 4WD the front end started to whine. Take it out of 4WD and no whine, so I only used it after getting stuck in 2WD.
This is where the Newbie info is needed. What would cause this whine? I filled my diff when I got home not knowing if that would even do anything, and it still whined when in 4WD. It's comming from the front for sure because I had my lady drive it slow in 4WD and I walked along the side and listened. Its comming from the outer part of the axle around the hub/tire. I had her shift it on the fly to 2WD and as soon as the drive line stoped spinning the whine was gone. What the hell? Please help. Thanks
This is where the Newbie info is needed. What would cause this whine? I filled my diff when I got home not knowing if that would even do anything, and it still whined when in 4WD. It's comming from the front for sure because I had my lady drive it slow in 4WD and I walked along the side and listened. Its comming from the outer part of the axle around the hub/tire. I had her shift it on the fly to 2WD and as soon as the drive line stoped spinning the whine was gone. What the hell? Please help. Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
Best case, your front end was low on fluid or the fluid was contaminated. Bad side would be ujoints, front axles seals or bearings. When you were walking next to it should not have been going fast enough for ring and pinion whine unless it was very far out.
Fill it up, and check the axle seals for leaks. If you have the ability, jack the front end up and spin the wheels by hand in 2 and 4wd. This may give you a better sence of where the noise is coming from or there is debris causing it.
Fill it up, and check the axle seals for leaks. If you have the ability, jack the front end up and spin the wheels by hand in 2 and 4wd. This may give you a better sence of where the noise is coming from or there is debris causing it.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,646
Likes: 1
From: Milky Way Galaxy
Since you're saying that it's only happening in 4x and you don't think it's the wheel bearings, there's really only 2 other things I can think of that would make a whining noise. The R/P gears ReAX mentioned or the pinion bearings. Both of these are only in operation when the hubs are locked and/or the front driveshaft is spinning. Generally, if it's the gears, the whine will change with the speed of the driveshaft and may come and go. If it's the pinion bearings, then it will happen at any speed and not stop until the vehicle stops.
Do what ReAX recommended and spin the front by hand just to make sure it's not the wheel bearings.
Do what ReAX recommended and spin the front by hand just to make sure it's not the wheel bearings.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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If you manually lock the hubs, does it continue to make this noise? Lock the hubs without engaging the transfre case. The wheel bearings are not your problem. The bearings spin always, regardless of wether the truck is in 2wd or 4wd.
You also mentioned that you filled the diff. Does this mean that it was empty? Where did the fluid go? Why did it require filling.
Really sound like a carrier bearing or a pinion bearing that went dry.
You also mentioned that you filled the diff. Does this mean that it was empty? Where did the fluid go? Why did it require filling.
Really sound like a carrier bearing or a pinion bearing that went dry.
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Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Sorry, I didn't have to "fill" the diff. I ment I checked it. I opened it up and 3 pumps of gear oil latter it was comming out the fill plug. So I'm guessing the fluid level was fine. I haven't tried locking the hub's with out the Tcase engaged, so I'll try that this afternoon and see whats up. Thanks.