Hello All, Coming out of 'lurk mode".

I have a 2001 7.3 auto trans, srw F350 4X4. Back in November i replaced both front Wheel Bearing assemblies. The right WB had gone bad so i replaced both sides. Anyway, a couple of weeks ago i noticed a vibration in the truck Thought it was the driveline/tires. Turned out it is the front passenger side axle. The ujoint was banging around inside the knuckle housing. Broke the zerk fitting on the top of the housing. So pulled the wheel bearing assembly, removed the axle and replaced the large seal in the knuckle housing and the small seal in the axle housing. But didnt feel i fixed why the axle had "come loose" in the first place. I drove the truck probably 30 miles and the axle has come loose again banging around in the knuckle housing. Luckily it was close to the house and i was able to drive it home. So, what causes the drive axle to become loose and start banging around in the knuckle housing? I read about the roller bearing replacment on "guzzles" web page. Before i take the front end apart is this my problem, a bad roller bearing? I looked over the wheel bearing assembly but didnt notice anything out of the ordinary.
Thanks for any help.

As an aside; has any one removed the front axles, plugged the axle housing, and driven their truck with out the 4X4 option? I kinda want to do this, mainly thinking I would have improved fuel mileage. But the Spousal Unit would have kittens if I removed the front axles.

I will be out of pocket but will check in later this afternoon.
Thanks for reading.
Raymond Paris

 

Welcome! This is a great place to lurk!

From the sound of it, i wonder if the snap ring that holds the axle inside the wheel bearing housing (located behind the hub lockouts and plastic thrust washers if i remember right). If it was missing or damaged, or just not fully seated, it would allow the axle to move in and out too far, possibly causing your problem.

As for removing the axle shafts and plugging the wheel bearing housing and axle tube, that would be difficult at best, and could prematurely destroy your wheel bearings at worst. I wouldn't recommend it. When your hubs are unlocked, you will get much the same mileage as if you didn't have the half shafts in the housing. If your hub was unlocked already, and you're still having this issue, my vote for a starting point would be the needle bearings, had some lock up on me from rust, the axle shaft froze up inside the bearing assembly, had to beat the hell out it to get it out. But if you just replaced the bearing assemblies, i doubt corrosion is your issue. I would open it up and take a look either way. Hope it goes well for you!

 

Hello Cowboy,
Oh yeah. When i replaced the axle/wheel seals I made sure that the snap ring was seated in the groove.
I will check and see if the snap ring has become dislodged from the groove. If so this is probably the problem.
Gotta go to work.

Thanks!
rtp