Need help bad - going nutz and broke!!!

[msouders88]

I have a 1994 XLT with about 225k all original and have been chasing a noise now for about a month in my front end - I have looked through all the forums and found nothing close to my problem except for in the 2nd gens and they cant find their problem either but am hoping us 1st gen owners have more insight on our suspension sysem problems.
The sound is like a tire growl (kind of like I am running big mud tires)on the passenger side front (at least thats where it sounds like) that goes away turning right but get worse when leaning on it (while driving) -- It starts at about 25-35 and disappears at around 55+, I do feel a small vibration in the steering wheel and floor pan.
Here are things I have done recently within the past year: new calipers, bearings (twice), rotors, ball joints on the passenger side, shocks, radius arm bushings, and auto hubs - then an alignment right after ball joints and new tires (Goodyear Wrangler GSA's 30")
The only thing I have not replaced are tie rod ends, they seem tight except for when you rotate the tie rod.

 

[msouders88]

Would a bad or worn tie rod end maybe cause one tire to want to track different than the other causing this type of noise. And how easily should the tie rod move when rotated - mine moves with little or no effort but does not seem to have end play.

 

[matthewst]

At the risk of getting laughed at....
I'd use "duck tape" to further "secure" the tie rod where it connects to the rest of the front end. Then drive it up and down the block to see if it still makes noise. That would at least give you a jumping off point.

 

[msouders88]

I forgot to add that is has a very slight pull to the passenger side as well, Hey, duck tape is my friend and should be taken seriously and is no laughing matter - if a couple feet of duck tape will help me find this noise I will name it Ford Tape and keep it in my toolbox next to my Ford wrench!!! LOLOL

 

[msouders88]

One more thing now that I am thinking about it - about 2 months ago after my truck sat all night I went to get in and go and had one hell of a pop sound happen as I let off the brake I turned to the left to pull out of my parking space and chocked it up as maybe my autohub on that side was not disengaged from being in 4WD the day before (kind of seemed like something was bound up and seemed like that wheel was stuck)

 

[matthewst]

I believe you can't legally call it a "tool box" unless it contains duck tape and a coat hanger.

 

[msouders88]

To hell with the coat hanger - I have a whole spool of 16ga tie wire - LOL

 

[msouders88]

If I were to put all the duck tape I have in my tool box I would not have room for the tools I need to work on my wifes Olds!!!

 

[msouders88]

having high hopes and all my faith in the silver stuff tried the duck tape thing, no better - then broke out the big guns and used my industial stength black high tack duck tape (used for holding on body panels, exhaust, fabicating serpentine belts, and holding Michael Waltrips car together because they dont want to spend all that money for bolts and rivets on something thats certain to be destroyed anyway, ect.............) and still no good.
How loose and and easy should the tie rod move - and how far should you be able to turn it, all mine twist roughly 1-1.5" +

 

[matthewst]

If the noise sounded exactly the same with the duck tape then I don't think it would be the tie rod. If it were the tie rod then the sound would have at least changed pitch or softened a bit.

 

[msouders88]

The drag link is the easiest thing to move out of everything else right there - I would just change it but funds are low and I have thrown everything at it except the bank, now if they shouldnt move really easy then I will replace all of it, I can do the whole job from auto zone for around $100.00

 

[msouders88]

I am going to try and put tape on both tie rod ends and see where that gets me, check back tommorrow about the same time to see how I make out - and thanks for the tip!!

 

[tclark77]

jack up and spin each wheel by hand in the air, I imagine you will find the right side bearings to be noisey. Don't overlook changing the races if you do end up replacing bearings. best of luck.

 

[msouders88]

I just replaced the bearings for the second time yesterday within 5 months of doing the rotors hoping that would be the problem, old bearings (replaced with the rotors in Oct) looked really good but figured there might be unforseen damage and replaced them anyway - rotors were replaced back in October from Auto zone with the races pre-installed , The races had no marks or wear patterns - I am going to do the duct tape thing on both tierod ends today - hell, the problem I hope might be on the driverside and effecting the passenger side, seeing as how everthing is connected. It would be a hell of alot more fun if it was not so darn cold out and another foot or two of snow on the way here in Pa -

 

[joe doe]

this might sound moot but have you tried rotating the tires?you could have one slightly out of round on that side ,or a belt inside the tire could be letting loose .ya just never know .
and this is something that doesnt cost a thing but time to try .i once replaced a hub at a high cost because i had a vibration on that same wheel.i still had the vibration after replacing the hub .turned out to be the tire.i was kinda pissed as i had my mechanic diagnose it for me and he said its gotta be the hub .
that was a expensive lesson.the hub wasnt cheap because the abs sensor is in the hub .so try that
ya never know .good luck

 

[msouders88]

I tried that - I am at my wits end with this noise, it dont sound healthy - just went out and duck taped the hell out of the tie rod end, I did it yesterday but I dont think I used enough and it stretched, truck is warming up now for test drive - good thing is if something lets loose I have lots of fresh snow to cusion the impact.

 

[joe doe]

when i get in a pickle like this i use this old addage
" i,ll know what it is when it breaks"
sometimes this is your last resort.

uh,what about taking the shaft out on that side to see if its the shaft making noise ?you do have 4 wheel correct?you would need to remove the shaft to that wheel,not just the front driveshaft.
that would drive me crazy too.i just went thru the stupid ebrake ticking noise,took the darn pads off and left it until spring .no more ebrake ticking.

 

[msouders88]

Still no good - I tried a different driving surface (a snow covered dirt road) to see if the noise would change or go away, 2WD and 4WD at 40mph which is when the noise is the loudest, no good - It sounds kind of like a bearing / differential / aggresive tire tread sound, and it sounds like it is on the passenger side front. anybody got anything?

 

[msouders88]

would the shaft make noise even when not in 4WD?

 

[joe doe]

yes ,that shaft turns with the wheel regardless of 4by4 engagement.check the boot on that shaft on that side .if its split open theres a good chance that shaft is worn or wearing due to exposure.