Hey all,

Ok so my 2004 has about 42,000 miles so far. I was driving back from the airport the other day going about 60 mph and suddenly something started grinding. I dont know specifically where but it was underneath the truck I think. It finally ended with a POP, like it was catching on something and then it was completely normal again. Anyways, i went along and a few days later it did it again twice in one day. The grinding lasts for like 15 seconds or so and sounds like something dragging or grinding or something.

Anyways, I talked to Tomball Ford (my local ford dealership) and the guy said he could have me in wednesday. Any thoughts as to what it could be? Unfortunately this dealership doesn't have the hottest reputation when it comes to service. They just love taking trucks, keeping them for a week, then giving them back and saying they don't know what the problem is as they walk away with hundreds of dollars.

Any ideas?

 

Sounds like you need a new garage... that's my idea.

But seriously... does anything actually happen to the drivetrain when this grinding noise happens? The best way to distinguish if it's in your drivetrain from the driveshaft to the wheels is to put the vehicle in neutral as soon as it happens... if the noise goes away it's trans/engine... if the noise remains it's driveshaft/wheels.

Now I know this doesn't help much but it's a good way for me to tell where it's coming from.

One more thing... when it happens, brake. If the brakes don't feel "normal" then you're having a brake issue... perhaps someone didn't tighten a bolt or something to that nature...

 

it does seem to get worse with braking but it may just be me. I know last time it happened i paid special attention to that and as soon as I braked it got worse and then popped and stopped.

but yeah i'll try the neutral thing. Thanks for the quick response!

 

yeah sure, one more important point I forgot to mention is when you do put the vehicle in neutral... let off the accelerator... that way the engine RPMs drop and the driveshaft/wheels keep going at the same speed.

 

Is your truck 4x4? Sometimes they lose vacuum and attempt to engage 4wd which grinds.

 

My IWE Intergrated Wheel End went out on my and would not compress fully to disengage pass side CV. Kept trying to engage 4 wheel drivem had vacuum but the actual IWE $90 at dealer crapped out on me. is your truck 4x4? Next time you hear the noise throw it in 4H... not while you are going more than 55mph, mind you, and see if the noise goes away. if the noise goes away you need to see if you have vacuum in the lines and if soo then you need to check the IWEs. I can look at it for you if you want to come to SW houston.

 

I agree with Sal FX4 I had the same thing happen and it was the IWE end. I also could never repeat the problem for the service writer and the service manager would not do anything about it. Luckily he left and the new service manager decided to take my advice (from this forum) and replace the IWE and I have not had a problem since. Good luck.

 

Exactly what these guys are saying.

See my thread on the same:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...t+differential

 

Same thing happened to me. I printed off all pages on this forum of other people having this problem and gave them to them. I had my truck back in an hour. I believe it's a TSB.

 

IWE. I just had this same thing happen to me (52,000miles). It sounds like you are dragging a box spring under the truck right? Throw it in 4 hi and the noise will go away. Secondly, mine threw codes that the dealer could see. The check engine light or 4x4 light never came on, but they told me there were codes thrown when they checked for them. Good luck, I am pretty sure this is your problem.

 

SuperSlabCab, i read this thread and i wish my problem was limited to a chaffed vacuum line!

I'll tell you what troubleshooting I did:
I pulled Vacuum lines on both IWE ends and they both had vacuum. I figured the easy and cheap fix was to buy the solenid that closes the vacuum line to the IWEs so i replaced in thinking it was not pullin enough vacuum to disengage the IWE. Well still nothing. I disassembled the pass side Steering knuckle/spindle and removed the Integrated Wheel End and found that it would not compress fully or easily. Seems like maybe dirt and/or mud may have entered and caused it to fail. I dont know for sure. Anyways, slapped everything back together and no more noise. I would have let the dealer handle it but i am out of warranty at 42k miles and i have a wierd feeling they would have told me my lift caused the problem had i still been under warranty:o

 

Sounds like something that my truck was doing. If I put the truck into 4X4 when I heard the noise it stopped. Took it to the dealer and it actually did it for them too. Was the actuators (have no clue what they are) but they changed them both out in the front wheels and it has not done it since.

 

Mine used to do the same thing... They changed out the actuators because they said that there was water infiltration... they also said that they did not come sealed from the factory properly, but that it would not be a problem now (I gueass the NEW ones were sealed better or they sealed them)... Definitely sounded like I was dragging a bed spring under the front tend of the truck... throw it in 4H and it went away...

Good luck. Jamie