front end rattle
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: southeast texas
front end rattle
Hey guys i have rattle on the drivers side front end somewhere and im not real sure what it is 
and it is starting to get worse.
The axle shaft has slack in it, i can move it about 1/8" up/down and side/side (i assume this is making the noise). The wheel/hub assembly is about 8 months old (oreilly lifetime warranty) and according to ford diagram i have all the parts that are supposed to be in there and needed to be changed. The sway bar links are about 2 months old, shocks are good, hub is good and tight. This is all i know to check. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any and all help.
and it is starting to get worse.The axle shaft has slack in it, i can move it about 1/8" up/down and side/side (i assume this is making the noise). The wheel/hub assembly is about 8 months old (oreilly lifetime warranty) and according to ford diagram i have all the parts that are supposed to be in there and needed to be changed. The sway bar links are about 2 months old, shocks are good, hub is good and tight. This is all i know to check. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any and all help.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: southeast texas
leaf spring bushings.. gotta get those at ford?
do you have any idea if there is supposed to be that much slack in the axle shaft like i was talking about? the passenger side doesnt move much.
do you have any idea if there is supposed to be that much slack in the axle shaft like i was talking about? the passenger side doesnt move much.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,578
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im having a hard time understanding what you mean by axle shaft... Where are you prying??? Try jacking up that side putting a pry bar carefully in your rim and see if you can move the wheel up and down. If so have a buddy look behind the rim and see if the play is in your ball joints or in the hub assym.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: southeast texas
the axle shaft is what i am calling the 2 peice shaft held together by a u joint that comes out of the axle tube, goes through the wheel assembly, and connects to the locking hub. That is what has slack in it (inbetween the wheel assy. and the axle tube) and i dont know if it is because of the u joint goin out or if i have something missing or if maybe is it supposed to have some slack in it.
Ball joints are good they were just changed out not long ago. the wheel doesnt move i just have a rattle somewhere in that area and i cant find it.
Ball joints are good they were just changed out not long ago. the wheel doesnt move i just have a rattle somewhere in that area and i cant find it.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 191
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From: NH
I replaced everything up front including the springs and still got a knocking that sounded like worn endlinks. Turned out to be rusted worn lower shock bolts. Diameter decreased over time allowing metal shock bushing insert to move up and down. I replaced them and no more noise.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 356
Likes: 10
From: South East PA.
the axle shaft is what i am calling the 2 peice shaft held together by a u joint that comes out of the axle tube, goes through the wheel assembly, and connects to the locking hub. That is what has slack in it (inbetween the wheel assy. and the axle tube) and i dont know if it is because of the u joint goin out or if i have something missing or if maybe is it supposed to have some slack in it.
Ball joints are good they were just changed out not long ago. the wheel doesnt move i just have a rattle somewhere in that area and i cant find it.
Ball joints are good they were just changed out not long ago. the wheel doesnt move i just have a rattle somewhere in that area and i cant find it.
Dan
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 356
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From: South East PA.
I wouldn't let it go to long as it can start to cause more serious damage if left UN-attended.
Dan
Dan
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: southeast texas
can you replace just the needle bearings in the wheel assy or do you have to replace the whole thing???
as far as the shaft is concerned, the only thing that holds it steady is the axle, needle bearings in the wheel assembly and the hub right?
as far as the shaft is concerned, the only thing that holds it steady is the axle, needle bearings in the wheel assembly and the hub right?
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 356
Likes: 10
From: South East PA.
Not to difficult a job, you will need circlip pliers, you will need to remove the brake caliper and the hub assembly,(not the unit bearing) the needle bearings are in the back of the hub, grease the new ones really well before re-installing, I highly recommend replacing all the seals while you are in there, the dust boot that you see hanging around the axel shaft will most likely need to be replaced as well. I recomend having a shop manual on hand when you do the job.
Dan
Dan
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From: southeast texas
you will need to remove the brake caliper and the hub assembly,(not the unit bearing) the needle bearings are in the back of the hub, grease the new ones really well before re-installing Dan[/quote]
ok im pretty sure i know what your talking about.. they were pre greased when i put all that stuff in 6 or so months ago when i replaced the wheel assembly and i was told not to add grease to it for some reason... ill check into that, if its messed up i also have another whole wheel assembly at the house with all the seals, thrust washers, etc..
thanks dan i'll check that out and report back.
ok im pretty sure i know what your talking about.. they were pre greased when i put all that stuff in 6 or so months ago when i replaced the wheel assembly and i was told not to add grease to it for some reason... ill check into that, if its messed up i also have another whole wheel assembly at the house with all the seals, thrust washers, etc..
thanks dan i'll check that out and report back.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 356
Likes: 10
From: South East PA.
ok im pretty sure i know what your talking about.. they were pre greased when i put all that stuff in 6 or so months ago when i replaced the wheel assembly and i was told not to add grease to it for some reason... ill check into that, if its messed up i also have another whole wheel assembly at the house with all the seals, thrust washers, etc..
thanks dan i'll check that out and report back.[/quote]
I've always added grease to new needle bearings on my trucks over the years, never had an issue, I'm about to do the same thing on my truck that you are doing as I've noticed the same condition on my drivers side axle, still have the original needle bearings in there, 155,000 miles on em, not bad, last time I was in there was about 70,000 miles ago to service them and grease them, looks like I'll be doing both sides new. Good luck.
Dan
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