I have a 2001 F250 diesel that I bought from dean arbor ford in Pinconning mi not even two years ago. We went on a road trip to visit family and it started humming constantly, as if I were driving on the sleep strips on the side of the road. Took it to a dealership, it now needs a right and left front axel assembly/bearing assembly put in it. Can anyone explain to me exactly what that is. Is it something I can do on my own or should I pay the dealership over two-grand to fix it???

Not even a year ago (12/06) I replaced the hubs, rotors, brakes, calipers and many other parts under the hood. Also in June of 06 the whole front end was replaced by <ST1Mi</ST1 truck spring took us for a loop and a grand.

We have the book about the diesel but it is not very informative on the axel assembly.

Any suggestions or explanations would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks

Shawn and Jess

 

Maybe time to consider trading up. Sounds like someone laced you into a high mileage unit. Good luck

 

there is less then 80,000 miles on it now. it had about 40,000 when we bought it

 

Let us do the math. Do you believe that someone had a SD truck and averaged 7,000 miles per year? You bot a 2001, say 12/2000 mfr. date. You purchased on 12/2006. Say 6 years. 40,000 miles divided by 6 is 7,000 miles a year. I have never done an oasis, but what I read here, maybe you should and then take the info you get to an attorney. My bet is you got a new speedometer somewhere along the line. Good luck.

 

An axle bearing could cause the humming. Other defective bearings throughout the drive train could also cause humming.

Replacing some bearings is not difficult while others may be difficult. You need the right tools and some mechanical skills. . You also need a good shop manual.

I recently developed a hum in the front end of my truck. When checking it out he first thing I noticed was some wearing on the outside edge of the right tire. I jacked the right side up and just as I suspected, the top ball joint is worn out. I haven't replaced them before but I am about to learn from my manual.

 

when I bought my 02 in dec 06, it had 46000 documented miles on it . In my yard, there are 20 superdutys and some pre 99 350 & 250 pickups that have milage below 30000 miles.They are both diesel and gas so it is possible to get a low milage truck without odometer tampering.We even have a 96 bronco that has 19000 miles on it. Alot of these are plow trucks and dont travel far as our accounts are local so it is possible to put less than 1000 miles a year.My 96 ln 8000 only has 43000 miles on it.

 

Yes it is very possible to find low mileage turcks, he is not questioning the ability to find low mileage trucks, but for this truck to need wheel bearings at 80K miles seems weird to me considering mine didn't go until 170k!! and it sounds like you were saying you already had them replaced once? something fishy there.

 

IMO...this is a pretty complicated procedure. Check this link...and see what you'll be in for if you do it yourself. This is not the complete procedure, but something to base it on.

http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/nblube.html


biz

 

Thanks to all who have replied to our question. Any other suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.

Today I took the truck to another dealership and they said kind of the same thing as the other, no one will tell you exactly what is wrong with the truck which is really starting to **** me off. Why in the hell do you pay them 75.00 to 150.00 to give you a half *** answer and then they just laugh at you when you say no really tell me what it needs done to it, like a list of parts or something not just, well here this is what they wrote down maybe one of you guys can tell me what this means.

L.f. axel asm 664.08
R.f. axel asm 606.98
Seals 28.87 X2
Seals 47.15 X2
Berring asy 16.79 X2 (I am assuming spindle bearings)

<O</O

Obviously I know the math part but that is about it. I asked the guy twice to elaborate on it, to be specific or the parts and he just gave me a dumb look.
I can definitely tell the seals a no good on the left, totally broke free. The right is about gone too. It is pretty pathetic that I now feel that I need to crawl under the truck with the mechanic to make sure they are doing there job.
Not sure what we are going to do yet with the truck. We have already dumped at least five grand into this truck in just the front-end in the last year and it seems to be hopeless, a lost cause. It has been basically driven on the expressway back and forth for work. It just amazes me that the front is messed up again. It has gotta be a crappy repair job. There is no other explanation. Here is a good question is there anyone that knows a good diesel mechanic in Northern Michigan who can actually work on a 2001 diesel F-250 Lariat Super Duty, 7.3 that has anti-lock brakes all the way around and won’t charge an arm and a leg.
Thanks to all who just listen to me bitch

Jessica

 

What do you mean, "in June of 06 the whole front end was replaced"??? Are you talking ball joints? Tie-rods? Axles? U-joints?, etc.

The fact that the hubs, rotors, brakes, calipers were replaced does not have any issue with your current problems. If you need bearings, then that is just a bummer, but they do go bad once the seals crack.

IMO...I would look hard at the rest of the truck...and see if it is worth fixing. If "NO" other real issues with the truck...then it might be. That is just a call you have to make.

Sorry...I couldn't be more help, but GOOD luck!


biz

 

Big article in yesterday's newspaper about the lack of Federal laws to protect consumers that buy used vehicles that have suffered water damage. Salt water will eat up a front end. I still would try to find out some history on your truck.

 

Here is what one of the invoice says
Ball joint L R & R lower ball joint (x2)
TR FA1754 Ball joint x2
XX F81Z3254CB seal x2

Ball joint U R & r upper ball joint (x2)
TR FA1171 Ball joint x2
SF 4480C Ford 4X4 bushin x2

i do not see anything on these papers about axels.
I am assuming the motor is fine and that the tranny is fine, Shawn has not complained about either of those and as far as I know the truck has a power train and tranny warranty till 100,000 miles.
In my own opinion I think we should keep it because we have sunk so much money in to the dumb thing and honestly I think we owe way too much on it to try to get rid of it. i do not know how well diesel hold their value. We still owe over $20,000.00 on it. I never wanted to get a diesel; it was Shawn’s great idea. Should have just kept the Ford Ranger (old faithful), that was a great truck!!

Thanks again for the advice
Jessica

 

Where do you begin to find out that information? We bought the truck from a dean arbor ford dealership. I am sure they are not going to answer any questions for me. We brought it back there a month after we bought it to complain about the lock-outs and they said too bad you did not buy an extended warranty.
Thanks
Jessica

 

I once was in a position much like what you describe and I sought out an attorney. I am not an attorney. I don't want to violate protocol in this forum. Even see if a free attorney or one that accepts contingency fee cases is available.

 

All you have to do...is go to a "friendly" FORD dealer service and ask them to run an Oasis Report for you. All they need is the VIN number. What this report produces is all warranty, recalls, and TSBs performed. That will give you an idea of any prior work...especially in regards to the front-end.

OBTW: Some folks here at FTE will run an Oasis for you...if you ask in a new post.

For example, my Oasis on my '03 told me that the truck before I bought it in '05 had ball joints replaced. Before that...an alignment was done under warranty at about 11,000miles. Now my ball joints are shot...and need replacing. The work was done at 34,000 miles...and now I have 99,340 miles. So...on my SD they seem to wear quickly. Hopefully this will be the last set!

Good luck...

biz