random front end growl

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Jan 12, 2007 | 07:37 PM

seaspray

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random front end growl

I have a random front end noise in my '99 PSD F-250 4X4. I can't seem to isolate. It sounds like it is on the drivers side. I can drive it all week with no growling or I can hit a bump and it sounds like the bearings are gone, hit another bump and it'll go away or slow down the under 20 and it'll go away. Or it'll just start with out hitting a bump. Don't feel anything in the steering wheel when it happens but feel a little vibration under my feet, along with the sound. Any ideas?? Thanks

Last edited by seaspray; Jan 12, 2007 at 07:42 PM. Reason: additional info

Jan 12, 2007 | 08:26 PM

USMC Diesel

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From: Depends on Deployment

Try Jacking up the front end and see if you can shake the tire.
It is a good way to tell if the bearings are bad.
Also you can spin the tire and see where the noise is comming from.

Jan 12, 2007 | 09:17 PM

seaspray

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Did that and no abnormal movement or sounds. If it were a consistant growl I know it would be easy to identify but it happens at random times

Jan 12, 2007 | 09:44 PM

redford

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From: Stephensville WI

If you have a long bed crew cab, check your carrier bearing.

Jan 12, 2007 | 10:35 PM

seaspray

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Nope. Short bed, ext. cab. with @ 130k miles

Jan 12, 2007 | 11:10 PM

redford

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From: Stephensville WI

How are your brakes?

Jan 13, 2007 | 06:57 AM

DetailerDave

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From: Phoenix, Az

Could be the needle bearings in the hub are dry. Mine acted quite similar to yours. New needle bearings did the trick. Ford sells them, I got mine from the local bearing supply.

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Jan 13, 2007 | 07:32 AM

SFeintuch

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From: Boca Raton, Florida

try manually locking in your hubs and see if the noise goes away, If it does you need bearings

Jan 14, 2007 | 10:35 AM

#10

DetailerDave

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From: Phoenix, Az

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaspray

did you change them out yourself?

Yes- It was not too bad to do. Pull the bearing, then I used a socket with an extension on it to push them out and a socket to push them back in.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...vibration.html

Last edited by DetailerDave; Jan 14, 2007 at 10:39 AM.

Jan 14, 2007 | 02:15 PM

#11

hosemandc

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From: Kodiak AK

What kind of tires do you have? Sometimes as tires reach the end of their life they start to make that kind of sound especially BFG mud. A mechanic tried to tell my wife she needed new bearings. I changed the tires and the problem was solved.