Hub noise

[Mhfco6]

The last week of hunting season I locked my hubs in when I got to the cabin. Shortly after I noticed an intermittent humming like a metal on metal when in motion. It definitely does not happen when hubs are unlocked. I went to the gas station (6 miles away) halfway through our trip with hubs unlocked and no noise. When I got back to camp I locked in hubs and the intermittent hum came back... 4x4 never skipped a beat! On the way home (over 100 miles) hubs were unlocked and never made a sound. On a side note I replaced outer wheel bearings last year, packed them with grease but not the race.. I left the old one in place.

 

[Curious Hound]

I would expect wheel bearing noise to be present all the time. Not just when hubs are locked.

Does it sound like it's coming from both sides or just one side?

Could be a hub problem or axle shaft up joint problem or even the differential. I would put the front on Jack stands, rotate wheels by hand and inspect everything real good to try to pinpoint where the sound is coming from.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

There are bearings that support the axleshaft inside the splindle. The only time they run is when the hubs and/or t-case is engaged. Might be a place to start.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/spindlebearing.shtml

 

[Mhfco6]

I would expect wheel bearing noise to be present all the time. Not just when hubs are locked.

Does it sound like it's coming from both sides or just one side?

Could be a hub problem or axle shaft up joint problem or even the differential. I would put the front on Jack stands, rotate wheels by hand and inspect everything real good to try to pinpoint where the sound is coming from.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

At first it sounded like only the passenger side.. towards the end of the hunting trip I thought it could have been the whole front end... not 100% sure.

 

[wildbill23c]

I have the same issue. Ordered a new set of Milemarker Hubs a couple weeks ago, too damn cold to get them put in and have about 16" of snow still so my Bronco 2 is stuck until spring most likely.

 

[Mhfco6]

I also forgot to mention in the morning, around 3-6 degrees I had to lock in 4wd to move from where I parked (6" snow on the ground) Once I got it to move there was a loud clunk.. not sure if the breaks were sticking, or it was my hub Seemed to come from the passenger side.

I didn't have any break pressure for about 5 mins until everything warmed up. May be time to change the fluid... or it was just really cold.

 

[wildbill23c]

Probably the hub(s). Once they start failing they start making all sorts of racket. My old boss just had the hubs in his 91 explorer fail and he said they were knocking, rattling and all sorts of noises and they would make a loud clunking noise when he was stopping too.

I've got my new hubs but no way to put them on in this weather, and right now I doubt I could get the old Bronco 2 to move as it had started to thaw then refroze everything so now the damn thing is frozen in a couple inches of ice anyhow .

 

[wildbill23c]

Weather finally warmed up enough that I could dig out the ole bronco 2 this morning and get the new hubs put on. No more grinding in 4WD. Back on the road again.

Now onward to other B2 projects...like getting my shelf-it ordered and installed and getting my power wires ran and into the fuse panel so I can hookup my radios.

Just started a HAM radio club here in town this past Thursday. For just a simple mention of if there was one and very short notice we had 10 people show up. Weather has been horrible but looks like we will have 5-7 more at the next meeting. I really hope this takes off because it would be a great help in me getting my HAM license.

Once again thank you TRS for all your great support and knowledge. $160 for the hubs and its right back out on the road again. If anyone needs a set of worn out hubs I have some HAHA.

 

[Mhfco6]

Looks like I'll just get new hubs. Hope that solves the issue

 

[wildbill23c]

Looks like I'll just get new hubs. Hope that solves the issue

For me it was the cause of the terrible noise. I figured before I did much in looking into the problem that the hubs were at fault because it never made noise in 2WD just when power was supplied in 4WD that those hubs started making noise. Hubs through JC Whitney were about $150 for both hubs. The ones I got are Milemarker brand.

 

[Mhfco6]

For me it was the cause of the terrible noise. I figured before I did much in looking into the problem that the hubs were at fault because it never made noise in 2WD just when power was supplied in 4WD that those hubs started making noise. Hubs through JC Whitney were about $150 for both hubs. The ones I got are Milemarker brand.

Thanks for the good info Bill!

 

[wildbill23c]

No problem, got the hubs installed late in the snow season, but they seemed to be working just fine last time I used the 4WD in April.

 

[Mhfco6]

Extremely late update, issue was the spindle bearing on the Passenger side. Needles were extremely dry and wouldn’t move around at all. Noise is gone.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Better late than never....lol.