Squeaky Front end

[JamminG4Jim]

When I put my x in drive (and start rolling), I hear a squeaking noise from the front end. It gets faster as I speed up until I get to like 20MPH then it goes away.

It sounds like it's coming from the right front wheel. Front spring spacers were installed last week, and maybe when we put the calipers back on one of the pads got crooked or something?

It doesn't do it in reverse, only moving in drive.

Any ideas?

Jim

 

[JamminG4Jim]

bump.

 

[EliteConcept]

it just happens while your drving stright? while Turning? are you hitting bumps and you hear it?

 

[JamminG4Jim]

Originally posted by EliteConcept
it just happens while your drving stright? while Turning? are you hitting bumps and you hear it?

I mostly hear it when I'm going straight, but I think(?) it may have done it as I was straighening out my wheels after exiting my driveway. The squeaking seems to be coming from the right front wheel (as far as I can tell from the drivers seat). I jacked up the right front wheel this afternoon and spun it around a few times, but no squeaking.

The wierd thing is, when I go forward really slow, the squeaking is really slow. As I accelerate it speeds up with the rotation of the wheel until i hit 20MPH or so. Then it disappears. It also seems to do it when I'm slowing down below 20MPH (but not every time)...

I hope like hell it's not a axle seal or something like that. I just had gears and lockers put in in December, and they replaced all the u-joints, seals, etc.

I've only put on 290 miles since december, so maybe a seal isn't seated right? Beats me.

Thanks for any advise.
Jim

 

[X-1]

I would check the pads, but probably a dry bearing, more load on it now with the spacers in, also depending on where your camber shims ended up, check for something rubbing, if they are turned negative, that draws the knuckle in.

 

[JamminG4Jim]

X-1,

Thanks for the idea's! I seem to remember that when my local shop was aligning my front end after the spacer install last week they mentioned that one of my wheel bearings was starting to go out. Not sure which side,tho.

I think what I'll do is replace the bearings on BOTH sides just to be safe. They are the stock bearings and the X has 92K on it, so it just makes sense to replace them.

Does anyone make aftermarket bearings that are heavier duty than the stock ones?

Thanks again, and also thanks to Elite for keeping the thread alive!

Jim

 

[X-1]

Timken bearings, that has been the concensus around here.

 

[JamminG4Jim]

Originally posted by X-1
Timken bearings, that has been the concensus around here.

Cool.

Autozone sells Timken bearings $13.99 for inners and $13.99 for outers. With the 33's on there I think it would be a worthwhile investment to replace the stock bearings. What do you think?

At the same time I'm gonna check the caliper pads to make sure they're seated right. I cleaned the glide pin groove deals on the spindles and made sure they were clean before I sprayed White Lithium Grease onto the pins and inserted them.

One bad thing about letting my X sit so much (1500 miles in 3 years) is some stuff give me grief cuz it hasn't been moved in months!!

Thanks for all your help!

Jim

 

[X-1]

I would definitely replace the bearings, for a little over 50 bucks, it is worth the peice of mind, especially with over size tires on it, that will be soon for me, I just recently repack the bearings, but I also want to replace, right now, I am replacing the driverside balljoints, it was not as bad as the passenger side, but the 10 inch wheels showed the play in them, so here we go one more time, Ii might go ahead and replace the tie rods too, then it will all be new from the frame down. , next year mine will loose the daily driver badge, I can't wait.

 

[JamminG4Jim]

Well, I replaced the wheel bearings today. It has been a LONG time since I did wheel bearings, but once I started it came back to me. I spent a little time cleaning all the mud out of the rotors and brake pads, etc.

Still squeaks. SO, I took it up to Car X where my friend is the manager and he listened to it and says " Rear U-joint "....He got in and I listened to it from outside the truck. Crap, he's right! Sitting in the drivers seat it sounded like it was coming from the front end! The squeak was echoing under the truck as far as I can figure.

I'm still happy I changed out the bearings, tho. Just for the piece of mind if nothing else. I kept the old bearings for spares.

I'll be doing both rear U-joints tomorrow AM. I also have to add a shim on the rear axle to correct the angle on the drive shaft. Adding the shackles changed the pinion angle a little. The shims I still gotta find. Where can I get Shims at?

Jim