Scary wheel/axle issue!?

[skeeter_byte]

Hi gents,

Wondering if you guys might give me some advice on where to start looking for a problem on my 1972 K5.

I was driving it the other night and for a moment the driver's side (?) front wheel made a grinding noise and then locked up -- almost sending me into oncoming traffic.

I originally thought it was steering -- tie rod, steering box or something, but it all seems to be tight and looked fine. I haven't had a chance to dig into the problem -- but before I start taking stuff apart I thought I ask you guys.

After the first time it happened, I drove a little farther down a side street to see if I could get it to do it again and it seemed fine. So I limped it home down side streets.

On the way home, quite a while later, it did it again sounded like a gear grinding for a moment then a quick yank and then back to normal. Got out checked to see if hubs were locked -- thinking it could be one locked and one not (?) and ensured that it was in 2 wheel drive on the shifter. I also tried locking the hubs and tried out 4 low and high and both seemed to work with no weird noises.

What would you think:

• wheel bearing
• issue in front differential or axle
• brake (seem to be very good, but I'll have a look when I get the front wheel(s) off.

Anyone have or hear of a similar problem.

Grant

 

[70jimmy]

With the grinding and the way the problem came up then went away I would first look at Bearings and races, make sure brake caliper isn't loose if you have discs or a broken rotor.

Doesn't sound like a hub issue, but might check axle shaft and u joints. If when you brake it stops straight and when this happened it pulled you left, I would strip that side down first and look there.

 

[bigblock72]

Check the axle joint, I'll bet one of the caps is rusted up in the u-joint. When the axle spins into just the perfect position the joint will force the knuckle to turn one direction or the other.

It's easy to check, jack up the front end, lock one hub at a time and try to spin the tire with the wheels pointed one direction or the other. If it's hard to turn or makes bad noises then you know that joint is frozen up.

If your Blazer has the early style small (260x) u-joints I would highly recommend getting some '73-77 axles with the larger 297 size joints. Wouldn't hurt to get the newer larger spindles/wheel bearings/hubs as well since all of that needs to come off anyway.

 

[Tabb]

First thing I would do is jack the wheel up off the ground so you can spin it by hand and listen for any noises. Could be bearings/races.
Very good looking truck you have.

 

[Burt4x4]

I vote WheelBearing is fried. It is self clearing when you hear the griniding. I would bet your hub will be extra hot if you had felt it.
Tear it apart and take pics

 

[skeeter_byte]

Thanks guys

If I get a chance tonight or on the weekend I'm going to have a look at the bearing/races and the u-joints and will report back.

I'll try and remember to take some pics too.

Thanks for your help guys...

G

 

[bp71k5]

I think the whole truck is probably ruined. How about I give you a couple bucks and do you a favor by taking it off your hands.

Seriously, I'm guessing a wheel bearing too.

 

[jfortner]

The other thing that I would check besides a wheel bearing is a long shot but it broke on mine and made it act really weird driving it. It was the pin to keep the axel centered on the spring. At first it just affected the steering and I couldn't figure out why, but then it was going back far enough to push into the fender well occasionally so it would rub which could lock the wheel up possibly?

Just something else to check while you have it up. Someone on the board told me this so once when it happened I stopped immediatly and measured center of each wheel to a fixed point and it was off. Didn't look much off when I walked back and forth to each side but it was.

John