1987 F-150 4.9 i6 - Clattering noise/Speedometer
03-20-2013, 09:36 PM
#1
Drugs and Diesel
Thread Starter
1987 F-150 4.9 i6 - Clattering noise/Speedometer
When driving, my truck makes a sort of clattering noise like a bunch of beads being rolled around in a bowl. The sound is almost non-existent at low speeds, and gets pretty loud at high speeds.
Rarely but every so often, the sound will stop for a few seconds at a time, and my speedometer will start bouncing all over the place. After a while the bouncing stops and the sound stays constant.
In my Chilton manual, the closest description of this problem points to the U-Joints being the problem. I changed them out, and it didn't help anything.
The sound is coming from the forward left side of my truck.
Rarely but every so often, the sound will stop for a few seconds at a time, and my speedometer will start bouncing all over the place. After a while the bouncing stops and the sound stays constant.
In my Chilton manual, the closest description of this problem points to the U-Joints being the problem. I changed them out, and it didn't help anything.
The sound is coming from the forward left side of my truck.
03-21-2013, 12:45 AM
#6
Almost surely your speedo cable. These were notorious for such problems, altho generally I'd describe the noise as a rising and falling squeak; however I can see how it could sound like rocks rattling in a can. The cable goes from your t-case to just below the firewall and pokes thru the floor pan behind your pedals.
Really not sure where to get a replacement, JY might be your best bet, up thru '91 should work. '92 went to the wonderful tone ring for speedo reading, but of course I guess you should be glad because if you were seeing this symptom in a '92-96 it'd mean your rear ring and pinion were eating each other.
You can also try disconnecting the cable in the cab & spraying some lube in there, but this is rarely a long-term fix.
edit: doh! 5rangers beat me to it!
Really not sure where to get a replacement, JY might be your best bet, up thru '91 should work. '92 went to the wonderful tone ring for speedo reading, but of course I guess you should be glad because if you were seeing this symptom in a '92-96 it'd mean your rear ring and pinion were eating each other.
You can also try disconnecting the cable in the cab & spraying some lube in there, but this is rarely a long-term fix.
edit: doh! 5rangers beat me to it!
03-21-2013, 05:55 AM
#7
Drugs and Diesel
Thread Starter
I'm gonna have to look through my manual for some info on changing this cable out. Looking through eBay I found several cables that are supposed to fit my exact truck model, but some are 80" but most are 63". I don't know which one I need, but hopefully I can just remove this one, and measure it.
Hard to say exactly, but it's pretty frickin' loud, so it might be the interior. My truck is fairly noisy on the road as it is, but it's safe to safe the interior is where the sound is coming from.
Hard to say exactly, but it's pretty frickin' loud, so it might be the interior. My truck is fairly noisy on the road as it is, but it's safe to safe the interior is where the sound is coming from.
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03-21-2013, 10:40 AM
#8
The easy way to verify that it's the cable is by simply disconnecting the cable from the back of the cluster and then going for a ride. Once you've done that, go ahead and shoot some lubricant down the sleeve regardless.