I have a 2003 Expedition 4.6 4X4. I've been hearing a clicking only at very low speed coming from the front end. Noise is apparently coming from the pass side axle/hub assy. Mechanic says the nut is snapped off under the little dust cover, and there lots of play between the splines on the axle and the hub. The more I read however I'm not sure he know what he's doing with this new setup in the 2003's with the vacuum/slide collar setup on the axle. He wants to do both hubs and axles. Says he's never seen this nut snap off before. Have any of you guys seen this??. Also at about 55 or so the whole truck sort of feels like its howling. Not realy a vibration the whole thing kinda feels like it buzzing. Before I spend money with this guy(He wants 1400.00 to fix it, I need to be armed with more info.This whole thing sort of feels like maybe theres no vacuum holding things down in that hub or maybe it is really worn. 139,000 miles. Thanks for any insight you guys might have about this Frank

 

What is the purpose of this snapped off nut? What does it hold?

 

It looks like that nut holds the axle from sliding in and out of the hub. without the nut there, it has about a 1/4 in of slide in and out of the hub. I doesn't look like it can go very far because the other end is in the pumpkin.

 

Oh wow, you're talking about the actual axle nut at the end of the axle shaft!! That's a first for me too, I've never heard of one of those snapping off, let alone see one snapped off. Just replace the axle on that side and you should be good to go.

 

I question if that shaft really snapped off . That's one massive chunk of metal .
I wonder if the nut was not tightened up enough and came loose ,then the axle slid back inside the hub/bearing a little giving the appearance that it snapped off .

 

I guess you haven't seen the new design on these Expys. It isn't the old castle nut you're thinking of, Its probably only a 10 or 11 MM nut that only torques to 20 ft lbs.Trust me its snapped off...It was rolling around inside the little dustcap when my mechanic pulled it off, and you can see on the end of the axle shaft and where it was. Picture about a 3/8 bolt sticking out of the end of the shaft about a half inch long. then put a nut on it and tighten it up until you snap the bolt off. Thats the only way I can describe it unless I post a pic of it and I dunno if thats possible on here.

 

$1,400?? The bearing/hub assembly only costs $175 - and there is no reason to do both sides if just one has the snapped off bolt. Would be curious how it happened - that's just a keeper nut without much force on it.

I'd pull it apart to replace the axle half shaft and then check the splines on the bearing hub at the same time. $1,400 seams a little steep if he hasn't even opened anything up to see what's going on.

 

175.00 ??? Heh I'd like to buy my parts where your're gettin em.Cheapest around here was the dealer at 270.00. Autozone was like 359.00, and I got a quote from Carquest for 336.00. I see em online at like Amazon for 174.00, But nobodys gonna let me buy the parts and bring em in...Sure wish I could. I was a little off on the price. He actually quoted 630.00 per side for hub and axle. I still think you guys are right just do one side and take it apart first to see whats goin on. Maybe its clickin because the nut just isn't holding it in place.

 

yea where are you getting this for 175?

 

Earlier years like 97, 98, and 99 are around $175 for the hub. For later years it's over the $300 mark for the hubs.

 

I bought two on Amazon for $175 each earlier this year - Timken #SP550202. That is original OEM part for a 2004 4WD Expedition. They are the only company that makes them - they supply Ford.

Not a big deal to install, either. If you do your own brakes, you can do the bearing hub replacement. It's just four 18mm bolts, the axle haft-shaft nut, and the speed sensor wire. No puller is required - once you remove the four bolts and the axle nut, it comes off in your hands.

 

i did not know that, thanks

 

That sounds about right - I found the same amount of play on mine when I had it apart.