Front end squeak/squeal

[westonmt]

Hoping someone here could give me a direction to go in (Hope is a method by the way!). I have a 2001 4x4 4.0L Ranger. Bought it on the cheap knowing the front end has some issues. After about a week I developed a squeak from the the front passenger side. It is speed sensitive, vehicle speed that is, not engine speed. Braking has no effect on the sound and neither does turning or engaging 4wd. It's not a constant squeal, more of a squeak squeak squeak sound that sounds like a flock of birds at speed.

A little background on what I have had done. I had this sound before and after this work and the sound didn't change at all as well.

Dealer replaced on both sides:
-Upper control arm
-Lower ball joints
-Outer tie rod ends
-Hub bearing assemblies
-Brake pads

-Previous owner told me that the rotors were machined to their limit and the mechanic at the dealer verified this. He recommended just changing the pads since there was no brake vibration in the front end...free labor since he was putting it back together.

-i pulled of the front right tire and rotated the rotor manually to see if I could hear anything (no luck) and I verified there was plenty of clearance between the rotor and the heat shield (i.e. no shiny spots on the heat shield from rubbing)...

Could the rotor cause this sound even if it doesn't change during braking? Would appreciate anyone's thoughts on what I should explore before I open up my wallet again! Merry Christmas!

 

[arren]

Not as familiar with the 98+ suspensions as I am the ttb, but the way I picture it the only things left to rotate and make noise would have to do with the hubs or cv shafts.

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

Not as familiar with the 98+ suspensions as I am the ttb, but the way I picture it the only things left to rotate and make noise would have to do with the hubs or cv shafts.

+1

Check your CV's and U-Joints.

 

[westonmt]

Thanks for the advice. It'll take a few days to get to it being that I'm about to go on duty for 24 hours and don't get off until Christmas morning (thanks Army, but that's a different story...)
One question though... the dealer said he replaced both hub bearings...don't those come as a complete assembly where the auto hub is replaced anyways? And do the cv joints rotate when in 2wd?
Thanks again and Merry Christmas!

 

[westonmt]

Also, if it is the hub how much do these run? and should I just replace both sides at the same time?

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

I know on some 4x4's that I have had in the past, that even when you are in
2wd with the hubs unlocked the driveshaft and the cv's will still rotate ever so slowly, from friction I think. Friends driving next to me noted it on the highway and I have see it on other lifted trucks.

Are you certian the sound is comming from your front end? Check your back driveshaft as well.

 

[westonmt]

Solved

Finally figured this thing out. Apparently the half shaft dust seals have a TSB on them (TSB 01-11-04) that didn't pop up at the dealer when they entered my VIN...of course. So after having all the front end work previously done, I received the pleasure (all my tools and hub puller are in storage in a different state) to pay them to again tear down the axles to replace the dust seals... the squeaky one on the passenger side was completely trashed and the seal on the driver's side that was quiet was pretty messed up but changed it anyway... Thanks for all the help guys.