Noise come from the left front
 

Hello. I could use some assistance with a noise issue. 2004 F150 XLT. I just bought the truck and I was driving home from work and i could here a scraping noise from the left front of the truck. I will try to explain.. At 45mph while going around a left bend in the road i heard a really loud squealing noise. but pulling to the stop light I could hear rubbing and scraping like a dust shield is loose and rubbing. Dust shield seems to be tight and not rubbing the rotor. Pads have plenty of life. No drag on the rotor.

Thoughts?

Is your truck 4x4? If so research the IWE.

If it's 2WD, sounds like you have a failing sealed bearing.

It is a 4X4.

check the vaccume lines going to the hub. when I did some suspension work I accidentally pulled the line off and when i reattached it I only got 1 side of the line on the hub (there are 2 holes in the line). this caused a grinding/scraping noise because the 4wd was trying to engage. if i put the truck in 4wd it would stop making the noise.

Pop it in 4WD while hearing said noise and see if it goes away..

Well, Between thunderstorms, I was able to start the truck, engage 4 wheel drive. I can here the solenoid actuate but the IWE's don't move. Granted I did this while the car was in park. Do I have to be moving for them to engage? I made a small scribe line on the Axle where it meets the IWE and it did not engage. I also pulled the vacuum lines from the IWE and there is vacuum there.

I am thinking of replacing the front wheel Hubs and IWE's. Any particular wheel hubs or IWE's I should purchase?

Thoughts?

Before you go spending money did you drive it till you hear the sound then engage 4WD to see if the noise went away?


When you put it in 4WD does the 4x4 light in the dash come on?


Have you checked to see if the check valves in the vacuum lines are working properly?


Answer each of these questions first if you'd like a little more help. There are a few easy and cheaper fixes I would look into first.

StephenG, I will look into these as well. Just got off the phone with ford, WOW they are proud of there parts. I will check all of those things and reply back before I go spend a bunch of money. Thank you.

Before you go spending money did you drive it till you hear the sound then engage 4WD to see if the noise went away?

NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY


When you put it in 4WD does the 4x4 light in the dash come on?

YES


Have you checked to see if the check valves in the vacuum lines are working properly?

YES


This may seem a little crazy but I had my son back down the driveway while I watched the front axles. With the 4 wheel drive off. The axles did not spin. I then drove around the block with the 4 wheel drive on and I could tell that the 4 wheel drive was engaged. I turned 4 wheel drive off and the front axles did not spin.

I am starting to think that the problem is with the hub or the brake rotor is warped. It does not do it all the time. Just when bearing left at speed. At low speeds makes a scraping noise and at 45MPH or higher makes a high pithched squealing noise only when baring left.

Confused....