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Well-Known Member
Hey folks,
This is a bit on the long side, but I wanted to provide as much info as I could.
Stock '94 4x4 ext cab w/ 4.0 and 5 spd with some intermittent mis-behavior coming from my driver-side front end. I've got Warn manual hubs, but this is all occuring in 4x2 (hubs unlocked, electric T-case in 4x2). Steering seemed a bit stiff - particularly as it passed through dead center. My balljoint boots are not what they once were so I thought it was just time to give them a bit more grease, but that didn't seem to help. A few days later while going 25mph or so I heard (and felt) some loud banging/clunking coming from the driver-side front end - almost like something was getting caught in the wheel as it was spinning. There was some wheel-pull going on during this time as well. It lasted about 5 seconds, then just stopped. I was literally 100 feet from home when it happened so I pulled in and took a look underneath. Everything looked absolutely fine. I took it for a slow spin around the block to check for it again, but everything seemed fine. In fact, the steering seemed smoother. I figured a stuck ball-joint had just worked in enough grease to pop loose again and start working normally (I know, stupid, but it was in the middle of a heat-lightening storm, so i was starting to wonder if that noise had come from my truck at all).
Now I'm finding that while the stiff steering still seems a bit better, I occasionally get a grinding/rubbing sound coming from the same area. When it does happen, it's definitely rhythmic, and seems to match wheel revolutions. The worst I've seen it (this has happened twice now) is when I start slowing down to a stop. The frequency will drop along with speed. Just before I come to a stop, it will become almost constant, there will be a bang/pop (felt more than heard), and simultaneously the wheel gets yanked to the right briefly just before/as I stop (feels just like the half-shaft u-joints binding when you try to turn in 4x4).
Any ideas what this might be? My initial thought was balljoints, only because I know the boots are in pretty rough shape, and I'm going to have to replace them in the near future. I compensate by greasing them well and often though, and there's absolutely no play in them. Same goes for tie-rod ends (and drag links). Besides, I'm not sure how they might cause the grinding and steering wheel pull I'm seeing now.
I was starting to think perhaps the u-joint in the driver-side half-axle might be seizing up. Or maybe the spindle bearing. But the half-shaft (and obviously the spindle) should be stationary in 4x2, and I don't see how it could cause the wheel pull if it's fully disconnected at both ends (t-case and hub). Just for grins, I locked both hubs and went (straight) up and down the driveway a few times. I noticed a definite steering pull, alternating rhythmically from side to side, so there may be something to that... However, it should be stationary, and I'm pretty sure it is. Hard to tell of course, but there's a smear of grease on that u-joint from when I filled the upper ball-joint, and it's always been in the same place when I park. What are the odds that my manual hub might be partially locking in? Or maybe the t-case locking in? I pulled the tire and hub on the driver side to have a look, but the splines on the shaft and the hub itself both look normal - no evidence of grinding, slipping teeth, etc. Wheel bearings look fine. I know that doesn't mean much, but this doesn't really sound like bearing noise, and a bad bearing wouldn't cause the wheel to jerk like that, it would be a more gentle, constant pull if anything, right? Spindle nuts are nice and tight - everything I can see without tearing into things looks OK to me. Brakes looked fine. They have a little over 2 years on them so they're not shiny new or anything, but it's not like the pads are torn loose or anything like that.
I also tried engaging 4x4 at the t-case on the way to work this morning, with the hubs unlocked. I found that if the rubbing/grinding is there, this makes it worse. But it doesn't cause it if it's not already happening.
As I mentioned, I was already planning at some point to do balljoints, and figured as long as I was in there I'd do the half-shaft U-joints, spindle bearings, wheel seels, and generally all the other things you'd need to remove the spindle for. I figure there's a pretty good chance that whatever this is would be resolved by that, but I really don't want to go through all that trouble and find I've still got a problem. I'd much rather know what's wrong before-hand.
So, any thoughts? I'd really appreciate it, and doubly appreciate anybody who managed to read this whole thing and still has the patience to comment!
This is a bit on the long side, but I wanted to provide as much info as I could.
Stock '94 4x4 ext cab w/ 4.0 and 5 spd with some intermittent mis-behavior coming from my driver-side front end. I've got Warn manual hubs, but this is all occuring in 4x2 (hubs unlocked, electric T-case in 4x2). Steering seemed a bit stiff - particularly as it passed through dead center. My balljoint boots are not what they once were so I thought it was just time to give them a bit more grease, but that didn't seem to help. A few days later while going 25mph or so I heard (and felt) some loud banging/clunking coming from the driver-side front end - almost like something was getting caught in the wheel as it was spinning. There was some wheel-pull going on during this time as well. It lasted about 5 seconds, then just stopped. I was literally 100 feet from home when it happened so I pulled in and took a look underneath. Everything looked absolutely fine. I took it for a slow spin around the block to check for it again, but everything seemed fine. In fact, the steering seemed smoother. I figured a stuck ball-joint had just worked in enough grease to pop loose again and start working normally (I know, stupid, but it was in the middle of a heat-lightening storm, so i was starting to wonder if that noise had come from my truck at all).
Now I'm finding that while the stiff steering still seems a bit better, I occasionally get a grinding/rubbing sound coming from the same area. When it does happen, it's definitely rhythmic, and seems to match wheel revolutions. The worst I've seen it (this has happened twice now) is when I start slowing down to a stop. The frequency will drop along with speed. Just before I come to a stop, it will become almost constant, there will be a bang/pop (felt more than heard), and simultaneously the wheel gets yanked to the right briefly just before/as I stop (feels just like the half-shaft u-joints binding when you try to turn in 4x4).
Any ideas what this might be? My initial thought was balljoints, only because I know the boots are in pretty rough shape, and I'm going to have to replace them in the near future. I compensate by greasing them well and often though, and there's absolutely no play in them. Same goes for tie-rod ends (and drag links). Besides, I'm not sure how they might cause the grinding and steering wheel pull I'm seeing now.
I was starting to think perhaps the u-joint in the driver-side half-axle might be seizing up. Or maybe the spindle bearing. But the half-shaft (and obviously the spindle) should be stationary in 4x2, and I don't see how it could cause the wheel pull if it's fully disconnected at both ends (t-case and hub). Just for grins, I locked both hubs and went (straight) up and down the driveway a few times. I noticed a definite steering pull, alternating rhythmically from side to side, so there may be something to that... However, it should be stationary, and I'm pretty sure it is. Hard to tell of course, but there's a smear of grease on that u-joint from when I filled the upper ball-joint, and it's always been in the same place when I park. What are the odds that my manual hub might be partially locking in? Or maybe the t-case locking in? I pulled the tire and hub on the driver side to have a look, but the splines on the shaft and the hub itself both look normal - no evidence of grinding, slipping teeth, etc. Wheel bearings look fine. I know that doesn't mean much, but this doesn't really sound like bearing noise, and a bad bearing wouldn't cause the wheel to jerk like that, it would be a more gentle, constant pull if anything, right? Spindle nuts are nice and tight - everything I can see without tearing into things looks OK to me. Brakes looked fine. They have a little over 2 years on them so they're not shiny new or anything, but it's not like the pads are torn loose or anything like that.
I also tried engaging 4x4 at the t-case on the way to work this morning, with the hubs unlocked. I found that if the rubbing/grinding is there, this makes it worse. But it doesn't cause it if it's not already happening.
As I mentioned, I was already planning at some point to do balljoints, and figured as long as I was in there I'd do the half-shaft U-joints, spindle bearings, wheel seels, and generally all the other things you'd need to remove the spindle for. I figure there's a pretty good chance that whatever this is would be resolved by that, but I really don't want to go through all that trouble and find I've still got a problem. I'd much rather know what's wrong before-hand.
So, any thoughts? I'd really appreciate it, and doubly appreciate anybody who managed to read this whole thing and still has the patience to comment!
