2000 f250 4x4 hub noise
 

Hi, i have a 2000 f250 super duty diesel 4x4, my problem is that the other day my dad and i were driving it getting ready to get on the highway when i heard a noise coming from the front right wheel. It was nothing visible, that was wrong but it sounds like if something is scraping. the noise isnt their all the time, but when you drive ul hear it once and a short pause then again it will sound. It is not consistent though, we took out hte tire to get a better look and when you turn the hub it sounds like sumthing is loose insde the locking hub. The left side of hte truck doesnt make this noise (loose parts noise), this is the first 4 wheel drive truck weve owned so i have no clue as to what could be the problem. Any ideas??

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Jack the tire up and see if there is any play in the bearings. Do this by grasping the top an bottom of the tire and see if it will move in and out. If it does the wheel bearings are the problem and not the locking hub.

If the bearings are good and the locking mechanism is the problem the best bet is to start shopping for a set of aftermarket hubs. They are stronger and less expensive than the stockers. Unless you have ESOF that you want to keep, then the only choice will be another stock hub lock.

I had a clicking sound coming from one of my lockers. Turns out it wasn't disengaging all of the way and it would sort of ctach and make a clicking sound. Not all the time.

I would also check what Cokie advised. I had needle bearing problems not too long ago also.

Id look at the inner axle bearing on the inside of the unit hub. An easy check, would be to lock your hub in(on that side), jack up that side, rotate the wheel. If the noise goes away, thats exactly what it is. Its a $10 bearing, available at most napas/part stores.

If you do find that its Hubs you need check out RockAuto, we have a wide selection of aftermarket manufacturers.

Auto Parts Fast at RockAuto

If you have any questions you can contact us directly: service@rockauto.com or 866-ROCKAUTO

Thanks,
Ashley

ok, thank you for the responses. Sorry bout the delay ive been working out of town the whole week. Ok their is no play in the wheel when i tried to move it while jacked up. Also, the noise that i hear before is no longer an issue, now the noise that is an issue is the scraping noise. ive heard this before when pads are metal on metal with the rotors but the truck has brand new brakes. Checked them and no issue their. Taking into consideration that i have no clue on what a front axle looks like on the inside, is their anything that could be running dry in there? also, the locking hubs, are they supposed to be kinda hard to turn or should they be easy to rotate. the one making the noise is real hard to engage and disengage. thats were the thought of dryness came. Well thanks for any help you can provide!!

It's sounding more like you just have a hub issue which there are a few of. Follow this link to help you with the basic service of the 4x4 hub:

Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Autolock Hub Lubrication Maintenance Web Page

There are other issues as well which you can find info on here:

04-18-5***AXLE - FRONT HUBS NOT ENGAGING, NOT STAYING ENGAGED AND/OR UNLOCKING

03-4-1***FRONT LOCKING HUBS - SERVICE TIP

The way to make your hubs 100% reliable and long lived is to get a set of after markets. I like the top end Warn hubs as do a lot of others. You will lose the ESOF though. I haven't had to do it yet on this truck, but I won't think twice when I have a hub issue. Usually you know when you're going to need 4x4 so just lock your hubs in before hand and then when you need it, you turn the knob to select the transfer case engagement. It is a lot better way to go mechanically and you also decrease the chance of water and foreign debris from entering in through the vacuum line.


Austin

If you can, jack up the bad side, and rotate the wheel. You should hear your noise. If you do, then LOCK your hub. Id dare to bet your noise goes away. If that is the case, its like I said, the inner axle bearing, on the inside of the unit bearing. If that changes nothing, remove just the hub, then spin the wheel, and see if theres any sounds. If it goes away, its the hub. Good luck

Edit: the inner axle bearing siezing up, can sound just like the worn out brake pad screech, and can be intermitten. Never had a hub make noise, but its a possibility.

newbie question......whats the ESOF???

Electronic Shift On The Fly

Had that noise happen to me, was driving home, and viola, bearings went out. The intermittent scraping turned into constant scraping, when they started to make noise to the time they totally died, probably 10 miles. 500 bucks later, back in business, ugh.

Oh ok! so what would be the solution to use without losing the ESOf? Most likely it is a bearing thats wearing out, is replacing it a job for the fast learner that has never touched a 4x4 before? or should i get a mechanic?

ok... so i took the whole thing apart and located the bearing that was bad, sadly it was sealed with the whole hub assembly and so my total was 305 for the part and a polishing power ball. Easy install of the new part, no complications and all went well! Thanks alot to all you guys who provided help and advise. I ended up buying the best part oreilly had to offer...i trust them with their parts!! Thanks again !!!

Good deal, glad you got it fixed up, and back on the road!