I was towing this weekend. While I was driving down the road I started hearing a noise. Sounded like I ran over a rock or a nail. Coming from the passanger side rear. This happened while the trailer was empty. Well it went away then it would come back. So every time i stopped the truck I would get out and look at the tire and make sure I didn't pick up a nail. No nail. Well then it starts making a metal on metal noise when I apply brake hard when coming to a stop. So I get out and look and can't see anything. So I load the trailer, around 5300lbs and drive off. Now that I have the trailer loaded. When i am going up a hill it doesn't make any sounds. When I start going down hill it starts back or when I am on flat ground it does it. I also noticed I could make it do it on flat ground by swearving to the left.

So After the day is done i drive home and get someone to help me find the problem. First thing I do is get under the truck and have someone push the truck from side to side via tire. I noticed a sqweaking sound coming from behide the rear drivers side brake rotor. I'm thinking i must have a loose wheel. So I jack the truck up and check the lug nuts. They where all tight. So I go ahead and remove the tire and start pulling on stuff. I noticed that the axle would move in and out alittle and make a noise close to what I am hearing.

So I have the wife take the truck to the dealer to have it checked out. I call the dealer and tell them what is going on. They say "every f150 on our lot will do that if you push side to side". So I tell him about the noise it makes while coming to a stop and while driving down the road. He says " If it was a warped rotor you would fill a vibe" . (I told him that when coming to a stop real hard it sounds like a metal on metal warped rotor) So by this point I am not going to argue with him over the phone. I just tell him something ain't right and to check it out.

Wife goes down says two folks rode in the truck and didn't hear the first thing. I told hear to tell them if they won't fix it I will.


Ok, I think it is an axle bearing. The truck only has 4000 mile on it. It sure would be a bad thing it the bearing gave out. It sure would be egg on the dealers face when it get's towed in. What do you think?

 

I think they need to fix your truck....
don't let 'em tell anything other than yes sir let's fix it....

 

Well, I don't feel like fighting any more with the dealer ship. Since they say they can't find any problems I'm just going to let it take it's self out. It's sad. All they have to do is take the back tire off then the brake caliper the the rotor. Not very hard is it! They said they put it up on the lift and didn't see anything odd.

Well, they must be blind. One that same side the last leaf in the spring pack is turned funny. I have never noticed it turned like that before. It is turned though. Odd!

 

You can't fix it if you can't reproduce it, is obviously the stance
the stealership is gonna work off of. Then again you already have the truck, if you know what the problem is and you have the skills / place / tools / and time to do it yourself then you should.
That's how i approach it. I use my friends philosophy that you can do it yourself and make it better than factory. He's in the
business and says you should only use the stealership for
warranty repairs you can't do yourself. Especially the big three
engine / tranny / drivetrain failures and such......

 

True. Sometimes I think that they ought to give you the part you need if you do the work your self.

 

This may sound dumb, but have you checked your hitch set up? Make sure the ball is on nice and tight, and the reciever is snug. I noticed this when towing a boat. My ball got a little loose and would make a metal on metal sound when driving. Also the ball reciever is a little loose when properly installed on my truck so every once and a while it will make a little knocking sound when i swerve. May not be the problem in your case, but just thought I would mention it in case it helped.

 

hmm, I thought our rear-ends had floating or semi-floating axles?

 

No it was coming from behind the brake rotor. I got under the truck and had someone make the noise for me.

Update I took the truck to the dealer and they said they couldn't find anything wrong. Although it hasn't made the noise since I got it back from them. Funny. I guess I was just hearing things. Oh well