I have a 1997 F-150 4x4 5.4L that has a strange noise coming from the front end somewhere. The noise, for lack of a better description, sounds like road noise you would hear with off-road tires running down the street, but I only have Michelin LTX tires on the truck. There also seems to be a slight vibration with it. The noise is present when I am driving straight. When I make a right hand turn, the noise drops considerably. When I make a left hand turn, it seems to be slightly louder than if I were driving in a straight line.

I have replaced the front right wheel/hub bearing thinking this was the cause of the noise as the noise seems to disappear when all of the weight transfers to the left side when making a right hand turn. This has done nothing to stop the noise.

Some of the guys I hang out with at a local race shop say that it is a carrier bearing in the front diff. I don't see how that would affect it as the front diff does not carry any of the weight of the front of the truck.

The noise does get louder as the speed increases. The noise stays regardless of if you're on hardtop or gravel. I know that it is about time to change the lower ball-joints, but I don't see how that would be causing the noise on gravel. The inside of the front right tire does show slightly, and I mean slightly, more wear than the rest of the tire.

I am at a complete loss as to what could be causing this.

Anyone ever have a problem similar to this, and what was done to fix it?

Thanks in advance.

 

It could be a bad tire. Try to rotate the front tires to the rear to see if the noise changes. I've seen a bad tire cause weird noises.

I had a set of Yokohoma's on an Acura RL that would howl at 35-45 mph. I thought for sure it was a bad wheel bearing or a problem with the differential or tranny but it was the tires.

 

I did rotate the tires and even put the spare tire on the right and then the left side to make sure. The sound was still there.

 

If you have access to a lift you could put it in the air, engage the 4wd, and drive it up to the speed you hear the noise at. Be very careful because it is dangerous. That should help you to narrow down where the noise is coming from.

 

It still sounds like a wheel bearing to me. Have you changed the other side?

 

I only changed the right side as the sound seemed to go away when the weight shifted away from that side (right hand turn).

Unfortunately, I apparently have one of the 1997 f150 4x4's with 4 wheel antilock brakes, and these wheel bearings are hard to find and aren't cheap.

 

could be not balanced, I had same problem with wife's escape, she took it to sears (I said what the hell is wrong with you) they didn't balance not one tire, and the result of that is what you describe, do you have after market rims or stock? could be if the weights are there, there only for show, by the installer


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Do you still have the old one?
if so put it on the other side that you didn't replace and also before you take the tire off jack it up in the air and if the wheel bearing is gone you will be able to move the tire by pushing back and forth on the top of the tire. I am replacing my 02's bearing on the driver side... The sound goes away when you turn to the passenger side. Try that and if you are looking for one I happen to have one for a 97 that just doesn't fit my 02 and also they are interchangeable!

 

my bearing was making a metallic grinding noise and had no play.

go figure.

 

Unfortunately, while taking off the old wheel/hub bearing on the passenger side, the bearing came off in three pieces. So much for the sealed press-fit units. Anyway, tomorrow night I plan on jacking the truck up on the driver side to see if there is any play on that side. I could have sworn I had checked it, but I think I was focusing on the passenger side so much because the sound went away when the weight shifted to the driver side.

lil_dq, do you still have the wheel/hub bearing for the 97? Does it have the sensor tab for the 4 wheel antilock breaks? How much?

Thanks in advance.

 

Grizzly,

I have the exact same problem. I changed the entire front end (ball joints, tie rod ends, drive shafts, and hubs w/bearings). I'm now pretty sure the sound is coming from the rear. I don't know what it is (yet), but I'll make a big bet it's not in the front end.

 

grizzly You've got mail!

 

I have the same type noise in my 03 F150 4x4 FX4. It sounds like I have mud tires on it. I have replaced the shocks and tires completely. It sounds like a roaring, moaning sound. I jacked the rear end up and put it in drive but didn't hear the sound. I then did the front end. When spinning the left front wheel you could hear a clicking sound from the front differential. It wasn't heard from the right side. My truck has 116k miles on it and nearly all are highway miles. please let me know if you have any suggestions...

 

k so i know this doenst really help as i dont know the name of the part....but my '00 f150 truck was doing the same thing and we changed the air hose thinger....sorry!!!!...im drawing a huge blank! its the connector to the engine block if that helps...well anyways it was loose and so when i would speed up and more air would go threw it would rattle really really really fast and we changed that and the noise went away....not sure if its the same thing but it sounds like it....ill ask the mr. when he gets home what it was but for now thats all i got!!

sorry again!

 

I have a similar problem too. My tires have always been noisy, but I figured it was because the truck came with 17x9 rims on it when I got it. I figured the extra width in the rim/tire combo could cause it. However recently it got worse, I rotated the tires tonight, hopefully that will make a difference. I will definitely be watching this forum.