Hey guys, i´ve just bought an ´97 4.6L 4x4 F150, in about 5 weeks ago, and now i begin to hear a wheeling sound, from the front of the truck. When it´s cold, there´s no sound, but after about 10 miles of driving at the highway or 10 minuts of driving in the city, this "funny" sound starts. If i continue to drive slowly around in the city, the sound reaches a higher level, and then youre shure that its a sound from your car.When i hid the brakes, the sound increases a bit, but only by braking.And it´s not the discs, i think it´s from the automatic gearbox or from the front transfer case. Does anyone have an idear for, what it could be? It almost sound like an axle grinding against a piece af rubber or plastic, but i cant find any problems under the truck. The sound is not very loud, but with your head out of the window by driving 5 mph, you can clearly hear it.
I hope someone could help me, cause i think we have about 10 trucks of this model in the hole country, so here´s not much help to find.
And the price of this truck over here, 10 years old, and with 60.000 miles on the counter, is about 30.000 USD. And the prices of spare parts are VERY high too.... ...

 

I forgot to tell that the sound does not compare with engine turns, but i does compare with wheel turns. I could drive by 10 mph and set in neutral, and still i got the sound..

 

Does it do it all the time or in 4x4 only? Could be a wheel bearing or the sort, lift it up and see if there is play in the wheels. Try rotating the wheels and see if you hear it as well. Could be just rusty rotors. I have been through 3 sets of brakes on mine ate 210,000 miles. 2 of the 3 times it started with what you described and the rotors were pitted out, The third time I snapped a rotor, that sucked.
Alan

 

Hey Alan, thanks for answering.
There´s no difference, between 4WD or 2WD, even if I set in N position, while driving, its still the same, there´s no play in the wheels, i just had my brakes serviced. I have tried to spin the wheels up, with a big electric motor, when the wheels were off ground, and no sound at all, everything seems to be ok soooo..........?
Bo

 

Have a good look at the front axles and driveshaft. Maybe you picked up something on the road.
Alan

 

Okay, but its not quite easy to check the driveshafts for wear or something, when there´s no clicking sound, by turning the car. Mayby it could be the inner u-joint, but i dont know how to check it...

 

I was thinking maybe something was rubbing against the shaft. Check the boots for tears. If you have a torn boot the grease will all leak out and the joint will fail. The u-joints in the front driveshaft could possibly be bad check them for movement. I hate to say it but the best way to check the front driveshaft is to remove it.
Alan

 

Thank you for answering