Tanman79

Hello gentlemen.. and ladies?
I have an '06 F150 Lariat 2wd and it has recently began making a noise that sounds like its coming from the drivers side front wheel. The best way to describe it is that it sounds like i have an MT Super Swamper on that wheel. (a whirring sound) this noise is tied directly to wheel speed on any surface (dirt road, paved and even snow) My only guess is maybe a wheel bearing, but it doesnt sound like a squeel or whine, nor is it getting hot that i can tell? Things that i have recently done that i was hoping would eliminate the problem with luck are new tires and new brake pads. (maint. that needed to be done anyway) This noise started literally 2 days before i put tires on the truck. I did notice when doing the brake pads that there is a gear assembly behind the rotor.. part of the antilock brakes? the tooth pattern on this cog certainly could be the culprit? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

techrep

iTrader: (1)

does the wheel move in and out when you shake it...

VFL

I just had this issue. It is the wheel bearing. It made a whirring noise, but I thought it was my new all terrains. It ended up turning into a grinding noise and then I realized there was an issue. Being your truck is 2wd you get new wheel bearing with the rotors, so I would jump on it before it gets worse.

Hongstertruck

This is new to me. If I understand you correctly the rotor and wheel bearing is a set? Another word I can't just replace the rotor by itself? Why would Ford do that?

VFL

Yes. It is one assembly. When you remove the spindle nut, the rotor pulls off along with the wheel bearing. I'm not a fan of the idea because bearings are much cheaper than a hub/rotor assembly. This is specific to 2wd though, the 4wd you can replace just the rotor.

Hongstertruck

Wow! Thanks! This is totally a set back for consumers.

VFL

I think it was intended to be beneficial. People would have new wheel bearings after installing new brakes. Or it was cheaper on the assembly line, who knows.

Hongstertruck

Wheel bearing lasts 90-125K miles
Rotor lasts 30K miles
Rotor cost $50
Rotor+wheel bearing+hub $250

That's about $1K in 125K miles for rotor+bearing hub.

Conventional cost will be (Rotor X 4 + Bearing) = ( 50 X 4 + 100 ) = $300.

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!

TomB275

Bearings and seals are replaceable indepedent from the rotor. You knock the inner bearing and seal out using a long drift from the wheel side.

VFL

I'm not sure where you reside, but it shouldn't cost more than $90 for a rotor with the included bearings. It is possible to replace the bearings, however I have read that it is a hastle and not worth the saved money because they are far more difficult to remove/install than other vehicles. Oh, the bearing that went bad on my truck was only 3000 miles old, so I'm lucky the rotor was covered under warranty.