Hi, i have a weird noise in the front right wheel of my 1985 1/2 pick-up, and only when the hubs are engaged and when the 4x4 is engaged. I do hear this noise since i own the truck...which is back in 1996. I decided to ask here.
The half shaft have been replaced long time ago but i remember it was still doing this after. If i throtle it down, the noise get worse as more torque is applied.
I looked at the bearing at it looks ok. My last thoughts are something into the hub, or the half shaft is bad. I replaced the brass bushings and seal few years ago, no changes.
The noise is realy a tikling tik tik tikling, like a super dead half shaft. No its not the engine that pings.

Once i unlock the hubs and put it back to 2wd, it is silent as heaven. It does it to a litle bit if the hubs are locked and in 2wd mode.

Any idea ???
thanks.

 

Sounds like your hubs need a rebuild. Almost like they are not put together correctly

 

well, they are working fine since i own the truck, i dont see what could be not put together correctly ??

is there a common mistake that i could have done with them ? i have haynes and chilton books, never had problems to reassemble them back on the truck.

any more specific info on this?
thanks.

 

When you looked at the bearings, does that mean you pulled them out?

And is there any damage to the axle boots...grease in them?

 

Well, when i changed the brass bushings and seals into the hubs, i pulled everything out of there. the bearings looked nice then, i greased everything a lot, and put everything back together, and adjusted the bearing with the preload measure specified by the haynes book. No play, it just turn smooth as new.

The boots of the half shaft are not craked, so i cant realy tell if it is full of grease or not. well, i way slip it out and have a look inside, there is no reason that all the grease went out since there is no sign of it anywhere around, and there is no reason to not look in it either

 

Okay, so if it was wheel bearing it wouldn't matter if was in four wheel, anyway.

Are they axles aftermarket? Not all, but some of them are real cheap. I've had aftermarkets/reman's fail prematurely. Nevertheless, it made the noise, you replaced it, and even when brand new it still made the noise? I assume the axle became prelubed? I mean it should...

 

its been soo long since i changed the axle, i cant remember if it was a new or reman unit. I know it was greased then.
That is back in 1996 when i bought the truck. It was ok then i think

It is making this noise for so long, i was used to it, i just decided that i must find the source and fix it before something breaks...but its been like that for at least 10 years, nothing broke yet.

Last year i removed the front diff to see it there was somthing wrong in it. Other than some play in the output flanges, it was like new inside.

 

Much play? Mine has play in it, but not more than less than 1/8 in. Some play is just fine.

Gee guy, after reviewing the thread, since it seems to be related to the locking of the hub (in 2 or 4 whl), that's where I'd look. You can find rebuilt ones at a good price, if need be.

 

i was hoping to have one of my budy lay under the truck and do a run test with the read driveshaft removed and the front lifted up.
But anyway, i will open that out and see if the shaft are lubed properly.

there was about 1/16 play, not more,

thanks !.

 

That's fine on the play.

Okay then, good luck. Post up what you find. I'm curious myself. It's either the hub or the axle. Probably the hub, though.