I am figuring that I need some front axle attention on my 05 Super Duty, when I rock my axle shaft or u-joint the "bearing assembly" where I am assuming the problematic needle bearing is located moves quite a bit also the last time I put the truck in 4 wheel drive I noticed some noise from the front end. I looked around in the tech folder for some how-to but wasn't able to find anything. I assume I could figure things out by myself but if there were any tricks out there I would appreciate the heads up. Thanks in advance.

Is the "Guzzle's 2002 Ford Powerstroke Diesel Needle Bearing Lube" article similar to the 2005s disassembly and assembly?

 

Hi. I have an '02, and I don't know what changes were made after the 2004 model year. Anyway ....

I don't think the needle bearing has been overly problematic. When my hub assy's (wheel bearing) failed, each time the needle bearing was still in good shape.

*Generally*, when you hear the noise while in 4WD, and not while in 2WD, you are *ruling out* the needle bearing.

Have you manhandled the axle on both sides .... driver's and passenger's? Is the amount of play the same? With locking hubs locked? unlocked?

Is the sound rotational? Or more like a clunk, etc?

There is nothing technical about getting the hub assy off to look at things ... if you're lucky, it will be very easy. There are several articles about balljoint replacement, etc here on the forum that will illustrate what some people did when they had a problem seperating the hub from the knuckle because of rust and corrosion.

Good luck.

 

I will have to check the play in the assembly with the hubs in the locked position. The noise that I heard was kind of a snaping sound or like something was binding at first I thought the u-joints were bad but they seem to feel ok. I will have to dig in a little to find out whats the matter.

Thanks for the info.