I have a 2006 F150 5.4 Triton flex fuel with 73,000 miles on it.Yesterday while pulling out of a county park after walking our two dogs it was a beautiful day so I put my window down to get some air in the truck. As I started to roll I noticed a click, click , clicking coming from what I think was the driver side wheel area. If I went a little faster it got faster, almost like something caught in the tire. Above 25mph it could not be heard because of road noise and wind noise. It did it on dirt road and paved road.I checked the tire when we got home but saw nothing unusual. Any ideas as to what might be the cause? Thanks

 

Wheel hub (bearings) or IWE, methinks

 

Thanks. Is there any easy way to check if it is the IWE. I'm not mechanically inclined.

 

Yup. Get the front tires off the ground (jack the truck up and set it down on jack stands so the tires are free-floating). Start it. Leave it in Park, in 2wd. Get out and spin the tire (with the engine running). If the CV axle spins with the tire, there's an issue. The CV axle should be separate from the hub with the engine running and in 2wd because that's just how it works. If it's spinning, you've got an issue with your IWE solenoid, vacuum lines, or the IWE hub.

 

Or.. you can select 4H while driving straight when you hear said noise .. if it goes away in 4WD, it will be the IWE or your system has a vacuum loss.

 

Or.... start your truck, press the brake, dunk an oreo in milk and enjoy! Seriously though both Tech and Martian are spot on!

 

Tried going into 4H while driving and the noise was still there.

 

In 2wd, does it go away when you steer in a particular direction?

 

No it does not.

 

I'm thinking if it's rotational, you should start by replacing the wheel hub. That'll get you new bearings.