Grinding noise up front

[LTSmith]

So I have a somewhat odd problem. I have a grinding noise coming from my front passenger tire area. Its almost like a rattling. The best way I can describe it is, the sound of a tires treads running along the bumper making that grinding type noise. (I know, not the best description) My problem is, the front bumper has been cut and the tire doesn't touch it no matter how much the wheel is cranked in either direction. So its not the tire rubbing that.

My next thought was that maybe the balljoint might be going bad, but it checked out fine.

The weird part about this is, the noise doesn't occur upon my initial start up and drive of the day. It only happens after I've stopped somewhere, turned the truck off, and when I start it up again to leave, thats when the noise comes on. It doesn't matter if I'm in park, reverse, neutral, or any gear. It will make it. Tonight I started my truck up with the parking brake off, and for the first time the noise didn't happen, but once i started driving in a straight line (wheels were curbed at park) the noise started again. Once I get up past about 5-7mph the noise will go away and rarely comes back when coming to a stop (but only after first taking off. If I've driven it a few miles, coming to a stop nothing happens. Very weird!). The truck drives fine, shifts fine, doesn't pull to either side or anything like that, so I'm assuming nothing to do with the tranny thank god.

My question is. Does anyone know what this could possibly be?! =( I'm not too sure what it could be, my brother suggested possibly that something is rattling but if that was the case wouldn't it always rattle no matter if it was first start up or not? Any ideas or thoughts are greatly appreciated!! I'm really hoping that its an easy/cheap fix, but I'm expecting the worst!! Please someone help me out!!

[NoRalPh]

Could be the needle bearings in the hub (cheap & easy fix). The test is to engage the hubs, in the Locked position (manually), drive around and see if it still has that noise.

[LTSmith]

Thank you!! I spent quiet a while trying to think of this one. I knew about it but I couldn't remember it for the life of me! I'll go try it out when I get some time. Hopefully thats it!

[mcmayor]

I will be curious to hear how this goes. I have a very similar problem with my '03 Excursion. I only hear the noise when I am in my neighborhood or in a parking lot going at slow speed. Once I speed up the noise goes away.

[LTSmith]

Well. I finally figured it out a few days ago when I finally had time to mess around with everything. I have 5" exhaust, and I finally noticed that where the down pipe runs past the cross member that holds up the tranny, the exhaust is touching a bolt. So thats what's been vibrating at idle. I was able to just slightly twist the pipe a bit and so far no noise. I'll have to let it sit for awhile though before I can get back in there and twist it some more. So if anyone has big exhaust and you have a noise similar, go make sure its not touching anything. Stupid of me to not look there in the first place