Grinding/howling/rumble from front end (going and stoping)- Replaced hub bearings

[MadDiesel73]

Ive had this grinding/howling/rumbling from my front end for a couple weeks. it only does it or i can only notice it when taking off up to about 10mph or coming to a stop down around 10-15mph, it comes and goes and is totally random. sometimes it doesn't do it at all. it got really bad so i checked and found out i had a really bad hub bearing on the drivers side, could move wheel in and out top and bottom ALOT. replaced that bearing and the noise went 50% away. its still there but now i can tell its only coming from the passenger side. so naturally i check that side. don't see any play but timkin hub bearings are $167 on amazon with 3.99 overnight shipping so i say f it and replace the pass side. both sides the b1220 needle bearings are good i see no visible signs of wear. now that the pass side is replaced the noise is 90% gone but is still there. a lot less frequent, a lot quieter, faster to come and go, but can still feel it and hear it.

any ideas?

btw i have warn premium hubs and it does this in and out of 4wd

 

[MadDiesel73]

i also have a tiny bit of play in the ball joints on the passenger side. I'm going to replace them but am trying to decide on XRF,moog,spicer,MCQuay Norris,ingalls engineering... im going crazy who makes the best ball joints? besides dynatrac... lol

 

[Dmstrucks02]

There was a small discussion a while back, this might help you out
http://powerstrokearmy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8932

 

[MadDiesel73]

so raybestos = spicer = MCQuay Norris

"Affinia Group Inc. is a global leader in the on and off-highway replacement products and service industry. In North America the Affinia family of brands includes Wix® filters, Raybestos®, AIMCO® and BrakePro® brake products, and McQuay-Norris® and Raybestos™ Chassis parts. South American and European brands include Nakata®, Filtron®, Urba® and Quinton Hazell®. For more information, visit www.AffiniaGroup.com."

 

[MadDiesel73]

Raybestos - pro grade lower 505-1181 ~$55 lifetime parts/labor warranty
pro grade upper 500-1048 ~$45

McQuay Norris - Extreme duty lower FA1754E ~$55
Extreme duty Upper FA1171E ~$45

New Spicer lower 505-1181
upper 500-1048

Old school made in usa OEM DANA/Spicer Upper and lower kit 700238-2X ~$90

XRF 4pc 2 upper/2lower ~$100 / million mile warranty


The xrf ball joints as well as the raybestos pro/MN extreme/spicer pro us a full ball design with a synthetic bearing.

XRF -

Raybestos/spicer/MN

http://youtu.be/XE_pO-C6l-o" target="_blank">YouTube Video

 

[MadDiesel73]

YouTube Video

Compared with moog

"The design and engineering features of Moog ball joints ensure that our products will deliver the performance and durability necessary to meet the demanding needs of our customers.

The ball-joint housings are forged and/or machined from a single block of fine-grain alloy steel, providing unequaled strength and durability.

Powdered-metal gusher bearings, with grease grooves, resist wear better than conventional designs. Moog’s innovative approach allows grease to flow through the bearing to the stud and provides a smooth, durable surface that extends service life. Moog’s design also transfers the load to the housing and provides strength and stability.

Patented pressed-in cover plates minimize radial and axial deflection, securing a solid-steering feel.

Moog uses premium polychloroprene and polyurethane — superior compounds that stand up to temperature extremes, dirt and abrasion — to seal the boots on our ball joints. In addition, the ball joint boots are fitted with grease relief valves. These features help prevent contamination and allow debris to be flushed out when the ball joint is serviced."

 

[Dmstrucks02]

I was going to ask you about part numbers! Have you decided which ones you're going to get?

 

[MadDiesel73]

probably the xrf or the OEM spicers

 

[MadDiesel73]

went with the xrf's mainly because of price. we'll see...

 

[Dmstrucks02]

Sounds good, I need to take mine in and see if these moog ball joints are bad

 

[caladash]

I just put XRFs on our Excursion. Much happier with them compared to the Moogs I put on my truck last year. Last week I put the Raybestos ones on a Dodge. To me...they felt very cheap and not as solid as any of the other ones. Also did the XRF steering kit. Not bad for the price.

My truck may have a bad Moog joint on the passenger side. I noticed a little uneven wear on the inside. Haven't jacked it up yet to check for play.

 

[Dmstrucks02]

Same here, inside of front tires are wearing bad

 

[MadDiesel73]

Found it.. So I bought a new compressor and 2135timax 1/2 impact and wanted to play with it. So I got under the truck and put it on every bolt and nut I could get to and tightened ERR down.. I also replaced the front swaybar bushings at the axle.

Problem solved.... Lol don't know exactly what did it.. I could have swore up and down it was some kind of rotational noise coming from the front axle/hub/bearing etc... Oh well it's fixed and my god it feels good!