LOOSE AXLE? LOOSE HUB? Movement & Rattle

[adaptJCM]

Hello everyone, thanks in advance for your help!

First off I have a 2000 Ford Ranger XLT Sport 4x4 automatic with 178,000. Constant upkeep and no serious issues but...

For the past few weeks I have been dealing with a rattle in my driver side front axle? Possibly the hub? I can hear a sharp rattle over bumps, almost a metallic "kinking" and I noticed as I grab the axle boot on the back side of the tire there is movement up and down and all around, NOT inward or outward. There is NO Axle Nut because it is a VACUUM PULSE HUB so it is NOT the axle nut loose. I have replaced the CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR, AND TIE ROD END and the rattle and looseness continues. After much aggravation, I brought my truck to the shop where they professionally replaced the driver side HUB and the driver side AXLE and the rattle and loose boot IS STILL THERE!

At a loss here, everything on the driver side is brand new! Hub and axle just put on YESTERDAY and it's still loose. I can move the boot in the back of the hub 1/2"-1" with ONE FINGER. Shouldnt this be tight? As it moves I can hear the rattle I hear going over bumps and am almost positive this is the culprit, but why is it not fixed after a new hub AND axle?? Starting to think the auto locking hub cap might not be grabbing the end of the axle and leaving it to dangle loosely? Not even sure if this is possible, I'm no mechanic, just a guy with free time and his truck!


Respectfully,

 

[jhammel85]

When was the last time that the bearings were done? Sounds a lot like trashed bearings. In fact, it could of been the bearings along with the axle?

 

[adaptJCM]

Bearings were just replaced with replacement of the new hub along with new drive side axle, and still the noise is there... hence the reason for the post.