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Bearing Squealing / found / easy fix / lead to more wrenching

scrappyk5

scrappyk5

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Yesterday morning on my way to work I started hearing a spurratic squealing every so many miles. with all the rain I thought at first it was a belt, but its not. It sound like a high pitch metal type squealing/like metal on metal. It sounds as if its coming from under the truck maybe an axle bearing or even possible tanny/transfer case. I do not think its the water pump or the alt or the power steering pump. When I came home it would still happen for a few seconds then go away for another couple miles or so. when I got home I felt all my wheel hubs ( dana0/14bff ), and after 45 miles they were nice and cool. I felt the transfer case and it was very warm all over including the tail.
Anyways, not sure where to start but I would like to catch it before it ruins something bad. so anyone else have have a wheel bearing go bad and actually get a high pitch squealing sound ? or a transfer case (203) tail shaft squealing sound ?
 
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Brake pad "squealer" maybe??--telling you your pads are about to go metal to metal...I've had the pinion oil slinger come loose on the rear end yoke on a truck and it spun freely,and would make a horrible screech at times at certain speeds,till I tack welded it back on...
 
I was thinking about the brake pad squealer also, actually kinda hoping it is that. we will see. I guess I am trying to see if anyone else ever had a bearing going bad in a hub or t-case that would make a squealing sound.
 
hit the brakes, if it goes away, check the pad thickness. little chirping noises from wheels are those little tabs warning of low brake pad material, the noise usually goes away when you hit the brakes. If it doesn't go away, must be something else.
 
Yeah I tried the hitting the brake thing when it did it for about 5 seconds and it still made the noise.
 
There is a needle bearing in the spindle up front that supports the stub shaft & outer U-joint that might be dried up and causing the squeal....I've had squeaky U-joints in a few vehicles that failed shortly after the noise started too,they vibrated bad for a few miles and then the shaft just about fell out!..
 
Sounds possible. I did replace the driverside spindle bearing last year when I was rebuilding the upper kinpins. Maybe the passengerside is failing
thanks.
 
Are your front axles turning? You mentioned hubs, but you were talking about wheel hubs, not locking hubs.
If the front axles are not engaged, its unlikely the spindle bearings are making the noise.
Often the axles will still turn when the hubs are unlocked due to grease friction, but if the spindle is dry, that usually stalls them out.
 
After I drove about 45 miles I put my hand around the hubs in the front and they were cool which would make me think the wheel bearings are good. I also touched the rear hubs/axleshaft end and they were cool also.
I didnt think about the axle shaft movement thing. Well tomorrow morning I will be tearing into things and do some troubleshooting. Also have some other wrenching to do. anybody want to help just call :whistle::D
 
Well the problem ended up being the break squealer on the passenger side. I needed new brakes , worn out more on the passenger side then the driverside, so didnt think I needed them. Well I had the tires off the front of the truck so I decided after doing the brake pads, I would install my crossover:thumb:. I got the regular steering box off and installed the 2wd box. All went well with that. Then I tried to get the original pitman arm off and it just wouldnt budge So I cut it off with my trusty cut off wheel. Installed the crossover pitman arm and the steering shaft. Next I went to installed passenger side steering had to stop. Time to clean up and take my son for a walk and have some dinner. I will continue Tomorrow morning. I also had to weld a 1/2 crack coming off of one of the bolt holes in the frame where the steering box bolts to. I did drill a hole at the end of the crack and filled it in. Will update tomorrow evening , hopefully with a couple pics.
 
Sounds good, are you going to install one of the braces/crack preventers?
 
I already installed a bolt on steering brace last year. I guess if it cracks again I will get the weld-on brace.
 
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