Check me please.

[icb12]

2000 F250 6spd 4x4 4whlABS Manual hubs. 118xxx miles.

I've got a nasty squeal coming from the front end. Also getting the rumble strip sound when the hubs are unlocked. All this screams "wheel bearing" to me. Naturally I logged on and been doing some reading. Fortunately there are relevant threads right below this one.

So check me if Im correct. The "rumble" is most likely the needle bearing? AKA the inner? I've narrowed that down to the passenger side. Now would a bad needle bearing also produce the high pitched squeal? Or is the whole hub assembly likely to need replacing? Lastly, any know a good way to isolate which side the squeal is coming from? I've tried and just can't seem to tell. The squeal happens regardless of hubs locked or unlocked.

There was a decent link posted up in a thread below on how to service the needle bearings, and if possible I'd like to go that route versus dropping mucho dollars on hub assemblie(s).

The bjs were done 15000 miles ago, as were tie rods, and drag link, stabilizer shock.

Appreciate the help.

PS- if anyone has part numbers for needle bearings and/or hub assemblies I would greatly appreciate that as well.
Thanks.

[NoRalPh]

I assume you're referring the the "noise in ft end" thread below, with guzzles link, there should be part #'s there..

As for your bearings, if the noise goes away with the hub locked than that's the needle brgs. Locking the hub would do nothing to help wheel brgs BUT what it does do, is to stop the needles from turning so, it's a great indicator of their failure.

The squeal? I'm not sure if that's those brgs or not. If they're so bad as to squeal, you might have destroyed the stub axle. But you need to take it apart to see what's going on in there....

Wheel bearings fail without "slop" or play being obvious (unless you really let them go )

[icb12]

Thanks,

I'll take it all apart and figure it out what I need to do from there.

[03_Turbo7.3]

Mine also has the rumble strip feeling..only does it every once and while..pisses me off..so i locked the hubs and left them locked for the last week lol

so its the needle bearings in the wheel bearing itself i take it? i have a spare one here from my last truck.. if you unlock one hub and it happens you can narrow it down to the side i take it?

[icb12]

Just thought I'd post and update.

needle bearings fixed the rumble, but not the squeal. Had to replace the whole hub assembly.

40 minute job. 293$ for the assembly from Napa. 17$ in hub studs from ford. (plus 65 for fuel and oil filter while I was there). Piece of cake. All better.

With air tools Im sure it would be faster.

[NoRalPh]

I am using, more & more, a 14v Dewalt 1/2sq.dr. Impact Gun.....

They're smaller than the 18v, have surprising "balls", and with a single 13/16 deep socket it pulls the lugnuts, caliper bolts, and the 4 hub nuts in a flash Once you find the right snap-ring pliers for the spindle, you can have the hub in your lap in 20mins!

I keep it behind the seat and have been amazed how often I'm using it

[03_Turbo7.3]

haha takes me 15min to have the whole side ripped apart now..

yes air tools are amazing..

I fixed my rumble too, i guess the wheel seal failed and let in about 100000lbs of mud..i shold take pics of the carnage.. its all good now!

[dereku]

You can get a freewheel hub conversion for about 1600 from Precision metal fab. He will hook you up with a good deal.

He is cheaper than dynatrac but the quality is better IMO