[jmadigan]

Ok so i have warn hubs on my 01 7.3 when the hubs are locked i get a bad grinding noise/ rubbing noise. It sounds like a the driveshaft is rubbing something. At first i thought it was the grease zerks on the ball joints because they were rubbed on. I replaced with smaller zerks and the problem is still there. I noticed that one of the vacuum seals behind the hub is ground down a little bit. Does this sound like it could be my problem? The noise is very loud i can hear it will my windows up and radio playing. Any thoughts?

 

[mnpowerstroke99.5]

I was going to say check the stub axle needle bearings in the hubs until you said it does when locked. Usually it will quit making noise when locked in.I would think it probably something with the lockouts.


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[blue99stroker]

Pull the lockouts off and grease them.

My bet is still needle bearings if they are really bad.

 

[jmadigan]

I didnt even think about the lock outs. Ill check them. And I litterally just re greased both needle bearings and they were both in good shape.

 

[blue99stroker]

Ok heck for shavings or abnormal wear from the lockouts.

The warns are easy to grease.

 

[jmadigan]

Ok sounds good. Ill report back after i get around to doing it.

 

[jmadigan]

Heck while im fooling around in the front end im going to rebuild the driveline. Does anybody know if the double cardan joint repair kit is sold at napa?

 

[jmadigan]

Okay this problem is getting relativly worse. Now on top of the noise when i use my 4wd im getting a shake and popping in the stearing. Ive noticed that if i spin the front drive shaft there is a spot that is harder to turn then others and i can see my axle u joints moving up and down slightly. Is it possible to bend one of those axles?

 

[yan7gin]

Did you pull the plug on the front diff to see if you have any shaving?


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[Googs]

Do you hear the noise only when the hubs are locked?
Uni-joints seized, tight?
Rip the warn lock-outs off and take it for a run down the road..

 

[klhansen]

Heck while im fooling around in the front end im going to rebuild the driveline. Does anybody know if the double cardan joint repair kit is sold at napa?

Yes, NAPA has the centering ball kit. Just be sure that you open it before you leave the store. There are supposed to be enough socket segments (can't remember if it's 3 or 4 pieces, but if you put them together the should form a full circle the same size as the backup washer.)

Okay this problem is getting relativly worse. Now on top of the noise when i use my 4wd im getting a shake and popping in the stearing. Ive noticed that if i spin the front drive shaft there is a spot that is harder to turn then others and i can see my axle u joints moving up and down slightly. Is it possible to bend one of those axles?

Do the axle u-joints do that when the wheels are turned or straight? If straight, your differential may be damaged. Spider gears stripped out and binding on the side (axle) gears might do that. If it does it when the wheels are turned, it could just be bound up u-joints.

 

[jmadigan]

The axles do that when strait. I never thought to look at the differential i thought they were pretty fail proof. Ill check that out next.

 

[jmadigan]

Oh and noise is only preasent when hubs are locked in 4wd or in 4wd without the hubs locked

 

[Googs]

This problem is a process of elimination, first have you pulled the lock hubs off and taken the truck for a trip around the block? is the noise there still?

 

[klhansen]

Oh and noise is only preasent when hubs are locked in 4wd or in 4wd without the hubs locked

You've narrowed it down to the front driveshaft, differential and axle shafts. I'd suggest you turn each axle u-joint by hand to feel for roughness in the stub shaft bearing and to check for looseness in the u-joints. Also remove the front driveshaft front u-joint from the pinion yoke and turn the pinion yoke by hand, feeling for roughness. If there's any, most likely your pinion bearings or something else inside the differential has gone south on you. Any leakage at the pinion seal? That's a sign of a pinion shaft that might be moving around due to worn bearings. Next step would be to pull the differential cover and check for shiny flakes in the oil.

If you catch a differential problem early enough, a rebuild with just bearings can bring it back to serviceable status.

Good luck.

 

[jmadigan]

Reviving this thing because ive finally figured it out. (I know its been a while) So the problem turned out being the u joints in the drive line were so warn out almost all of the cups were dry and one of the cardan u joints had a cup that was actually shattered in 4 or 5 places also the cardan centering ball was pretty jacked. Just got done rebuilding the driveshaft and ill have it back in the truck today. Thank you all for the suggestions