My 94 straight six is running pretty good now. But have had a wierd noise coming from the front wheel area. The best I can describe it, is it sounds kinda like mud grips going down the highway. Other than the noise it drives and stops great. But this noise is getting more prominant. At first when I got it a couple weeks ago, it didn't have this noise. Then it started doing it when I would apply the breaks but made no noise not using breaks. Now it's just the opposite. Going down the hiway it sounds like I'm running mudgrips. But when I apply the breaks slightly or hard the noise goes away. Also going down the hiway the noise will go away if I turn it slightly. I'm running basic street tires so I don't think the tires are doing it. I drove it about twenty miles this evening to Best Buy and it made the noise the whole way. I walked out of the store and got in it and it ran quite for about half the way home then started again. I felt the bearing caps and they were cold when I got home thinking maby the bearings were geting hot and going bad but they were cold to the touch. Any ideas?

 

Sure sounds like wheel bearings. If you switched front tires, you could rule out the tire, leaving you w/.............guess what? You know what bad pads sound like, right?

 

Ok I'll check out the bearings in the morning. Are you saying the tires might be rotating the wrong direction? Can't say I know what bad pads sound like. Do you mean pads that look good but are bad? I know what worn out pads sound like when they are rubbing the rotors. Kinda like a scraping noise.

 

I have had a few occasions of bad bearings going out and it never sounded like this. It was always a high pitched chirp or pop. This sounds real similiar to mud grips going down the road. If it was bearings why would it quit when I apply the brakes? Not doubting your wisdom just wondering sir. Thanks

 

More like, if the noise switches to the other side when you switch, it's the tire. (leaving the tires on their rims) Ya, you know what the pads sound like, so it's a different sound. With the wheel off the ground, check for slop, but that's a pretty drastic symptom.

 

Yep slop in the wheel. Bought new bearing and installing them in the morning. First time to put any in a Ford. Any thing much different than a GM that I should know? Will I be looking at metric or standard stuff?

 

Except for having to flip the truck upside down, it's pretty much the same. <-joke-<
All I remember is, when I thought I had em set perfectly, it ended up being to tight. Pack w/ Synthetic grease.

 

Ha Ha....Thanks man. Already bought some bearing grease and don't know if it's syn, but will go ahead and use it. I don't have a press and plan on using the hammer and one inch deep socket method to R and R. Can't wait to get this done. Then the only thing I'll have left to fix is a leaky exaust. I just got this truck recently. It's a 94 150 4.9 standard cab. I'm really likin it. Had to do a few things but runs great. About a month ago a guy turned in front of me going 45 and we hit head on. Totaled my old 79 GMC. That was a good truck except kept having starter probs. The insurance gave me 1300 for my GMC and let me buy it back for 150. The mechanic sold me the Ford for 900 plus my old truck. Are you still there? Anyway I have 1050 in my new one plus some small things I done. Ford Has ac GMC didn't. Ford gets good mpg GMC didn't. Ford drives like a new truck GMC didn't. State Farm also gave me 600 for pain and suffering. Hit the windshield with my head. No big deal, hard head. And use that to put a new head gasket on my wifes Grand Cherokee which was going bad at the same time this happend. So it all worked out and no one got killed or mamed.

 

lol

 

That's what she said.....