Noise from front end

[Donman]

I have a '01 4wd and I was wondering about sounds like a little front end noise. I just replaced rear end with a used one after a dry bearing noise, now I have it again but sounds different, and seems like the noise changes when I lock in the manual hubs not being in 4wd. Any idea? I've replaced main hubs and the auto hubs with manual ones and just had tires rotated and rebalanced because it had been years since it had been done. I may just have Ford check it out eventually.

[350 ONE TON]

have you replaced or checked the wheel bearings? does it change when you make a right or left hand turn? Sounds kind of like a groaning noise or what? sounds like it might be one of the unitized hubs going out. May also be u joints in the axles or on the front drive shaft. check them out too

[Donman]

Yea I've replaced the wheel bearings twice and it's more like a groaning, rubbing noise. Well
Replaced the left one twice because I thought the first one I got might have been bad. And I replaced the axle seals on the left side not the right. I should just do both driveshaft u joints and see what that does.

[Donman]

Does change some with turning, coming off the throttle and braking. And the u joints in the axles seem to not have much slack but I guess that doesn't mean the bearing or needles aren't dry. But how much do they rotate in free spin?

[350 ONE TON]

If the hubs are unlocked the axles and front shaft shouldn't spin at all. But you said seems to really make noise when you lock the hubs in right?


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

[Donman]

Na seems to be less noise when the hubs are locked in.

[350 ONE TON]

Hmm. I'd jack it up and check everything. Sounds like probably a unitized hub going out


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

[Donman]

Both have been replaced with last 3 months the left one twice.

[350 ONE TON]

Yeah I'd say to check it out a little closer. Maybe someone else will have another idea. When you put the hubs in, did they come with new needle bearing assemblies or did you re use the old ones


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

[Motomike777]

+1 on sounds like there could be one of the hubs that maybe isn't disengaging properly because you're saying that changes the sound. One side locking would give you an odd sound because the one engaged side of the axle would spin the diff and potentially counter rotate the other side plus spin the driveline, parts in the transfer case and such, but would sound more normal when both hubs were properly locked and everything was spinning in the right natural direction at matching speeds.

You should also check the vacuum system to each side and make sure all of that is tight and right since you've done the hubs.

I'd personally go to full manual aftermarket hubs and bypass all that garbage. That's the plan for my crappy stock locked up ones. Definitely look into asap though as a single locked hub can do unhappy things to your transfer case etc.