I took my truck to a reputable shop today to have my 2" leveling kit installed. The owner calls me and tells me he has good news and bad news. Good news, the kit is on and it looks great! The bad news, they were using an impact wrench to put the spindle nut back on the axle, and they broke the axle nut.

He advises me it's probably ok to drive the truck home but to be careful until he can get an axle ordered. I'm not upset at all, mistakes can happen to anyone, its taking ownership and correcting the mistake that makes all the difference. They've been great!

My question is, how unsafe is it to drive until the new axle is put in?

Also,

I'm hearing a roaring noise upfront, could this be related or more likely due to needing an alignment?

When letting off of the accelerator the truck seems to come to slow down quicker. Anything I need to look for? Nothing seems to be in a bind and there are no other weird noises other than the roaring.

thanks for the help!

 

Roaring could be alignment or it could be that the axle isn't tight and the bearings are getting chewed up. I wouldn't drive it at all.

I'm wondering why the removed it to begin with. I did a 2.5" level and didn't have to remove the axle from the knuckle,

 

Scott,

I agree with you, I'm not sure why they removed it either. I'm really hoping that nothing is permanently broke. He said actually just sent me a text, and said he placed the order through ford tonight, and hopefully the axle is in tomorrow. I'm half worried to make the 20 mile drive back there!

 

Thinking the same thing, I haven't put a leveling kit in these trucks but others I haven't even touched that bolt, you look online you have to disconnected the control arm and torsion bar. Are they paying for it or are you?

 

an impact? ya that nut is a thin wall nylock nut. usually snug it up with a wrench and thats it

 

The owner took complete ownership, he is purchasing the new axle, he wouldn't even let me pay him for the job until he has my truck fixed. I hate that it happened, but I really respect the way they've handled it so far.

That's what I said as soon as he called me, there's no way in hell they should have utilized an impact on it. I'm wondering if they have the drivers side over tightened ... that could be causing noise as well I suppose.

 

[QUOTE="scott2683;5149949"]

The owner took complete ownership, he is purchasing the new axle, he wouldn't even let me pay him for the job until he has my truck fixed. I hate that it happened, but I really respect the way they've handled it so far.

If they are taking ownership and saying they #$cked up then good, just hopefully no further issues will happen, replacing an axle is alot of work and labor.

 

theres a good chance your IWE's are shot as well. I dont have a 4x4 but from reading threads its entirely possible they didnt pull a vacuum on them before doing the work. and it they pulled the axle nut they most assuredly didnt pull a vacuum on the IWE's

 

I pulled the truck in the garage this morning, raised up the front end and looked everything over, I disconnected the battery as well. I pulled the driver side tire off to make sure he didn't have that axle nut over torqued, and then rechecked everything I could. I'm really hoping my IWE's aren't shot. That happened on my 2010 when I leveled it.

after reassembling everything, I drove it down the street and back, and didn't notice any odd noises this time like I did driving it home. Hopefully the shop calls me back this morning letting me know he has the axle. I just don't understand why someone would try to tighten it with an impact.