03-NOISE!! going NUTS!!

[03_Turbo7.3]

so about 2 weeks ago i got this noise coming from the front drivers side tire area and it sounds like a growling almost as if a wheel bearings shot, and if im going anything over 30-40km/hr, so it got me mad enough ( i hate knowing somethings wrong with my vehicles) that i said F%$^ it and ordered a wheel bearing assembly from Ford, 320$ later i had a brand spankin heavy wheel bearing assembly in my hands, so i figure hell ill toss new brakes on it to while im at it, 140$ later for pads, so i get back to the shop i work at ( toyota ) toss my truck on my hoist rip the front tires off take everything apart machine my rotors, take the whole hub assembly blah blah off the truck replace it with a new one and put everything back together, get in her and had a moment to go this sound better be gone, took it for a spin and WTF its still there...now im pissed even more, so i take my vacuum hubs and switch them drivers to pass and vice versa figure something else must be wrong, road test it and AGAIN noise still there, now im choked, new everything in the front end and STILL a growling noise, and this noise is apparent in 2 or 4 wheel, locked and unlocked hubs, it doesnt matter, i ask a few other ford guys and they say maybe a tire but it totally sounds like a wheel bearing, im chocked!! ANYONE?? ANY IDEAS?? thanks

[Rob]

does it come and go with the throttle appllication??? i get a " noise " and am not suure where its comng from either. i heard ujoints, so i am gonna replace them.

[rednekexprez]

dry joints in the front end can make some pretty strange sounds..

[99bigred]

he said it does it in 2wd, if it is truely only in 2wd then the u-joints wouldnt matter. wonder if both sides are unlocking?

[03_Turbo7.3]

thats why i switched the hubs, 4wd drive works awsome and if one side wasnt dissengaging would i not get wheel hop on dry pavement?

[dhanna6powerstroke]

Could be ball joints also.

[03_Turbo7.3]

checked them also, basically brand new...im going to swap some tires around tonight..see if that helps :\

[csford]

could it be steady bearing

[99bigred]

i would def check your lockouts they may not be unmlocking and the only way to know is if you are outside that truck while it is moving and see it. jack up both sides and turn the tires and see if either of the alxes turn too. you would not get wheel hop as long as the rtansfer care disengaged. we drove ours 200miles home and didnt know the front was still spinning.

[alberta 7.3]

Originally Posted by 03_Turbo7.3

checked them also, basically brand new...im going to swap some tires around tonight..see if that helps :\

Good idea to try swapping a tire. My '00 makes a weird noise from the front driver's side (speed related, more pronounced at higher speeds.) Tore everything apart, looked okay, then when I put the tire back on, I noticed the tread blocks were angled (like minor cord separation.) A test with the spare confirmed it was just the tire.