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Front End Problems

Old Nov 10, 2008 | 12:14 AM
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Front End Problems

To make a long story short, I've had a roaring noise coming from the front of my truck for over a year now. I've replaced both hubs and the cheap seal that keeps the front shaft from going all over the place, but the noise is still there. Its not a tire sound because it makes the noise going down the road or if I'm driving in the grass.

Anybody have a clue???
 
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 12:20 AM
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It could be a wheel bearing. If you jack up the front and rotate the tires,do you hear anything?

Edit: excuse my lack of manners.....Welcome to FTE!
 
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 12:44 AM
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Both sides have been replaced already. It still does it.
 
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 12:47 AM
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Does it fluctuate with rpm or mph?
Check your fan, make sure it isn't chipped or cracked and is tight.
A bad fan can and will "roar".

And welcome to the forum!!!!
 
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 12:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Steve_250
Does it fluctuate with rpm or mph?
Check your fan, make sure it isn't chipped or cracked and is tight.
A bad fan can and will "roar".

And welcome to the forum!!!!

Good point!
 
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 08:42 AM
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Teh fan looks fine, no chips or anything. It makes that noise and at certain speeds it wobbles a bit. I just had the tires rotated and balanced and that good stuff.
 
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 10:49 AM
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4x4 truck?

Wondering if something might be jacked up at the transfer case?

What kind of tires? I run aggressive mud terrains and they made a roaring sound on deaccelleration. It took an alignment guy that knows his stuff to make them quiet.
 
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 09:40 PM
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I have the same problem, noise sounds like a bearing but I replaced both hubs, brakes, rotors, u joints, carrier bearing, ball joints, bushings, new tires, alignment and still have the noise. I finally took it to a mechanic and he put it on a rack. He said it was hard to tell but he thought he heard noise from the rear end. (ring and Pinion) $1200.00

It only makes the noise when I accelerate. When I let off the accelerator it quites.
 
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 11:01 PM
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A question. What did you mean by "seals that hold up the shafts?" cause Ive been replacing all that stuff and still not able to get my stub shafts from moving all over the place.
 
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Old Nov 11, 2008 | 08:40 AM
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To answer the question about the tires, their not normal street tires, but there not big and nobby. Like I said before, you can here the noise driving on any surface, even snow. I checked the brakes and rotors, but their not dragging any.

I don't remember the name of that seal, but its right behind the hub. That seal is hard plastic with rubber and metal dust sheild on it. The spindale widens out to about the size of a soup can inside that housing, and thats where it goes. You press it onto the drive shaft and suppose to keep things from moving around, but I don't think it does.
Now between that hub and the seal, there is a plastic spacer that fits inside that seal. I didn't know anything about until I went to Ford and made them give me a diagram of the whole front end. I was hard to figure out what was what because the seal had been chewed all to hell. It was broke and came out in peaces. So really what happens is that that seal wears down, the shaft starts moving, and it in turn wears out the inner bearing on your hub. Of which, can only be bought as a one whole peace.
Now on the ring and pinion thing, if thats the problem, the trucks gone. All the U joints and stuff look good, but I'm going to get a closer look. I have noticed that if I make a sharp turn or start up a steep hill, I can feal something in the rear end hopping around.
 
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 12:11 AM
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me too

I also have a roaring that is coming from my front end. My truck has 175k so I was going to replace the hubs as well as my bearings but i'm worried that it might not be the problem now. It does not seem to go away if I turn the truck and I read that if it was the bearings the noise of go away or change?

I also have a clunking sound when I brake when i'm going 35mph or less. It's on the driver side and I can feel it in the floor. It's been about 2 years now and it seems to make the noise when it's wet. That's why I forgot about it during the summer. Durring hard breaking my truck pulls to the left and pulls the wheel left and I have to correct but there is NO noise. Balljoints?
 
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 12:30 AM
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This might be WAY off but I had a strange noise from my truck. I replaced everything I could up front and it still wouldnt stop. Come to find out my steering damper was shot and it was making noises that would start and stop at random times. I only throw it out there because I know how frustrating throwing money at something and it still not fixing it!
 
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by 2002 7.3
I have noticed that if I make a sharp turn or start up a steep hill, I can feal something in the rear end hopping around.[/SIZE]
Have you changed the rear diff fluid lately?
Perhaps you should, and use the correct amount of modifier in it too. That could be the source of chatter-hop in the rear.
 
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve_250
Have you changed the rear diff fluid lately?
Perhaps you should, and use the correct amount of modifier in it too. That could be the source of chatter-hop in the rear.
That's what I was thinking!!!
 
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Old Nov 22, 2008 | 09:20 AM
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when you say you have a roar from the front end, what to you mean, like the fan roar, bearing sqeal, constant sqeak? It only happends when at certain speeds but not dependent on driving surface? I'd fine and abandon straight road, pull the serp belt and drive it up to that speed. Just keep in mind that you won't have any power steering or brake assist but if it does it at 30 mph and you have the road space it would answer several questions I think. Just dont drive it that way longer than the trip to find out, the water pump won't be moving fluid either and the engine will get warm quick. I am thinking maybe an 8th mile would rule stuff out.
 
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