Weird front end issue. 2005 suburban

[DR]

All,
I have a 2005 1/2 suburban 5.3 with the auto 4x4.
The last few days I've had this very odd front end issue. If I step on the gas hard I get a loud howl from somewhere in the front end. It also pulls crazy hard to the right. It only does this under hard acceleration. Last night while driving it the traction control light came on and it gave the warning that the traction control needs service.

I checked the brakes,which are fairly new, they don't seem to be hanging up. The unit bearing on the right seems fine and spins freely. I checked the fluid in the front dif. It was a little low. Less than half a quart.

The only thing I can guess is that I've burnt up a bearing in the front dif. Anyone had anything like this happen? Any ideas?

 

[Blue85]

I have the same truck. Sometimes when first taking off, especially while turning, it will grumble a bit and kind of not want to go. I've always thought it was the traction control, but conceivably it could have something to do with the front diff engaging. It just doesn't do much of anything for me to worry about it.

You should try pulling the fuse for traction control to see if the problem goes away. Also try pulling the fuses for T-case and front axle actuator. Just to make sure it's not an electronic issue before tearing things apart. It almost sounds like the system detects wheel spin on the front right and tries to shut it down.

 

[DR]

That makes sense. I'll give that a try. Thank you. I have had a few electric gremlins in this thing. It's definitely a good starting place.

 

[Stomis]

Its crying for a solid axle swap.





Sorry I had to, Im no help.

 

[DR]

Ha! Believe me... if I had the money that would be the solution. Although I'm not even sure it's possible with all the computer crap in this thing.

 

[skunked]

Wheel bearings do some weird stuff. How many miles on it? I want to say mine took a crap around 160k and I couldn't tell it was bad spinning it by hand or gabbing the wheel at 12 and 6 to check for slop.

 

[DR]

170,000. The bearing seems to be okay. Spins freely and no up / down play. I won't get to mess with it again until the weekend. But I'll update if I figure it out.

 

[skunked]

170,000. The bearing seems to be okay. Spins freely and no up / down play. I won't get to mess with it again until the weekend. But I'll update if I figure it out.

Mine spun fine, no play whatsoever. Under load it would do some weird stuff.

FWIW- super easy to swap out the bearings on those IFS trucks.

 

[Chevy305]

Bad wheel bearings give no play indication that they are bad on these trucks. They just do weird things. I'm not saying a wheel bearing is the cause of your problem but if they are original then I wouldn't be surprised if the were on their way out.

 

[Teck]

I say wheel bearing. Pull everything off the front right side then spin it if it sounds rough its bad.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

I'm having the same issues on a 06 Tahoe.
130k.
I'm leaning towards either wheel bearing or the abs/wheel speed sensor telling bad info the traction control system. Either way I'll just do new unit bearings and some new brakes and call it a day.

 

[skunked]

I'm having the same issues on a 06 Tahoe.
130k.
I'm leaning towards either wheel bearing or the abs/wheel speed sensor telling bad info the traction control system. Either way I'll just do new unit bearings and some new brakes and call it a day.

It's stupid easy to replace them. It's been a few years but the timken bearing was about a $100 a corner with the ABS sensor through rockauto. Vatozone wanted something like 215 a piece for the same damn thing

 

[Smokinthehippies]

It's stupid easy to replace them. It's been a few years but the timken bearing was about a $100 a corner with the ABS sensor through rockauto. Vatozone wanted something like 215 a piece for the same damn thing

Yup. I just did the same thing on my ss last fall. Ordered the whole kit and kaboodle thru summit as o went with a SSBC brake kit for all four corners as well. Probably won't do that on the Tahoe tho.

 

[skunked]

Yup. I just did the same thing on my ss last fall. Ordered the whole kit and kaboodle thru summit as o went with a SSBC brake kit for all four corners as well. Probably won't do that on the Tahoe tho.

I bet that was a nice upgrade

 

[Smokinthehippies]

I bet that was a nice upgrade

Sure was. Not as good as the Baer kit I was looking at but a few thousand less over all lol

 

[DR]

So.. I replaced the unit bearing. And it definitely needed it. It was very obviously original. But, it didn't solve the problem. I'm starting to believe it's a stabilitrack issue.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

So.. I replaced the unit bearing. And it definitely needed it. It was very obviously original. But, it didn't solve the problem. I'm starting to believe it's a stabilitrack issue.

I'm assuming the new bearing came with the new abs sensor included correct?

 

[DR]

Yep. It really sounds like something in the front diff area. But I could be wrong. The 4 wheel drive is functioning as it should at slow speeds.

 

[Blue85]

Sometimes the bearings on the diff go bad.

 

[skunked]

You replaced just one unit bearing? Only reason I ask is because I did the same thing on my HD and the problem didn't go away, turned out it was the other side of the rig that was bad. Similar issue your having with the random turning however mine would do it as I went into a turn or made a lane change. Made me pucker more than once with a 26' car hauler hooked up as it would "oversteer" into the next lane.