Frontend noise.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
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Frontend noise.
Sorry guys but I have never gone into the front end of a 4x4. I have a 1989 f150, 302, Auto with manual hubs. Looked hard in threads and just didn't find one matching my problem. I have pretty hard cluncks when I lock the drivers side hub. It happens with the hub locked in 2wd or 4wd and in 4wd with hub locked or not locked. It does not do it at all in 2wd with the hub unlocked. Thinking ujoints but again I have never worked on a 4x4 front end and am not sure. What else should I be looking for while tearing this thing down in the morning. If it is the ujoints as I suspect, is this going to be a hard fix?
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
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From: NY (not the city!!)
It seems like the u-joints. With my truck it was the front driveshaft ones. The axel u-joints are a lot more work. Make you sure you have a ford axle nut socket or you wont get very far. You will also need snap ring pliers and a small pick/screwdriver to remove the retaining ring for the hubs. If you can afford it, get some manual locking hubs and switch them while you are at. Also check brakes and replace/repack wheel bearings. Pay attention to how everying comes apart. Its best to do all this stuff at the same time so you have to only take everying apart once. Especially if you are renting the socket or any other tools.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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have you replaced the bushings? if not that is why it is clunking as you say. they are worn out.
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Junior User
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Been doing a lot of reading on this sight and think it is the ujoints. Bought them today and will try to get them on this weekend. If any of you want please look at my other thread "Codes???". I am really having problems there. I have taken a lot of advice and just can't figure it out. Fixed several things that were in fact bad but still others. Please check it out.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2009
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Nnero, replacing the manual locking hubs on my truck and have th ford 1/2 ton axel nut socket...but my book says apply inward pressure to release the self locking nut....it won't push in. Any ideas? I don't want to break something.
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Junior User
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nnero, you get the prize. U-joints, though not the ones I thought they would be. It was the two on my front drive shaft. Was pretty weird because it really sounded like it was coning from the hub. But when I jacked it up and locked the hub I lost the noise even in 4 wheel drive. Took the drive shaft out and drove the truck with no noise. Oh did I mention that when I dropped the shaft the only thing in the needle cups was rusty dust. Thaought that was a pretty good clue but I had to drive it to make sure I didn't have multiple problems. Did turn out a little weird that I would have sworn the noise was in the hub though. Just goes to show you got to tear it down to really find it. Thanks guys for your input.
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
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From: NY (not the city!!)
Glad to hear it worked out for you. For months, I would have put money on it being in the hub, but it was the front driveshaft u-joints. It make you feel good when a problem is solved, though that usually mean three more pop up 
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Junior User
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Yeah, I also sure thought it was in or near the hub. The sound really threw me off as to where it was. I really thought it was the ujoint tight behind the hub because of when I could make it happen, hub locked not in 4x4, or hub not locked but in 4x4. Oh well, won't be the first time I was wrong. Not to mention the front drive-shaft u-joints are much easier to replace!
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