Ultraman V

I've got a noise coming from my front end, anyone know what it is ?

JOKING


Here's the scoop:
I put on a new CV axle on the passengers side about a month ago, prior to that no noise whatsoever.
Imediately after installing the new axle I get a noise like a loose fan belt would sound. Pitch/frequency both change even if I'm driving at a constant speed, 25mph +. I thought it may be the new seals not seating correctly so I got up to around 45 and the noise went away. Later, the noise came back, but not as loud so I figured they are "breaking in". My truck has a 3" lift on it which put some strain on the CV joints so again, I kept thinking just needs some break-in time to get loosened up.

The next day I take it apart again and clean/re-grease the the contact points. Does no good.

A few weeks later I install a new axle, still get the noise.
A week later I put on a new dust seal on the back of the spindle, still getting the noise.

I installed a 1" front diff drop and put spacers in my center support bearing to drop it about 1/2". Still getting the noise.

It's not constant......the other night when I got close to home and driving about 30mph I could hear it quite loud with my passenger window down and when I would pass a fence or a car on the side of the road that would reflect the sound back to me. It still sounds like its coming from the front passengers side to me. 30 minutes later I take the truck to the store and no sound at all.

It still sounds more like a rubber to metal noise than a "fingers down a chalkboark" metal to metal sound and it doesn't sound like the droan or moan of a worn bearing.

I've talked to a shop and he told me to drive it till it's constant then bring it in for them to diagnose.......this morning I couldnt hear any noise on the way to work.

I can hear some noise at 55 but with the aggressive tires/wind/rain its really hard to hear.

Any ideas from you guys? I just replaced all fluids in the cases a few months ago. Greased all joints on the driveline.

Right now I'm just going to keep driving it till I can get a constant noise then take it in. But dam this is annoying.........

AppleJack

I know it's a headache, but like the mechanic said, just keep driving it until it's bad enough to diagnose or until it breaks.

Ultraman V

Yep, that's where I'm finally at right now.....I'm tired of stressin over it and have finally gotten to the point of saying F&^$ it until something happens. It really suxs though, I HATE rattles and noises with a passion. Since I've had the truck I've gotten out three dash rattles and a very bad 60mph vibration, then this.......what really sux is that if I turn the radio on...the noise goes away, but it's still in my HEAD....argh!

./rant

Ultraman V

Fingers are still crossed but I think things have been resolved.

I believe this is what happened. I replaced the font cv axle on the passengers side but when slipping the axle into the back of the spindle I caught the rubber dust cover seal and tore it, this caused the first squeal. I replaced the dust seal on the spindle but I could still hear a squeal coming from the truck, it was different though and now it was only after the truck had been driven for a while, like when I got home from work.
Jacked it up and got my buddy to listen and we identified the center support bearing.
I've only had this truck about six months and I think that since I was really listening for the front squeal that I inadvertently created myself, but resolved, I actually started to hear the CSB squeal before it got really bad.
Dropped the driveline and took it to a specialist and he said that the noise isn't a bad CSB since the on on there was fairly new but its the old stock dust shields rubbing against the aftermarket CSB, he said the first one he had like that took him quite a while to figure out but since then has seen several. So he removed the dust shields and replaced the two outer U-Joints, straightened and balanced the whole line. I put it in this morning.....stayed home sick today ......but got out there anyway and bolted it back up.

Took it for a drive and its very smooth and quiet, I really hope that was it, whew.