I've got a 2008 F-150 FX4 SCREW. I take it off-roading every now and then, but I like to go mudding a lot. I went through some mud the other day, and if one was being critical of my driving, I was probably a little rough on the truck - but nothing my bro's stock '99 Tahoe couldn't do. On the way home, I washed it, and even had it detailed. I never heard any noises that day. Next day I stated hearing like metalic "brushing" noises (sorta like a swooshing sound, about once every rotation of the wheel) from the back left of the truck. I thought, hey, it might be some dirt or something under there, so I re-washed the undercarriage and all. But no resolve. I hear it when I'm not accelerating, when I'm slowing down, and when I'm going around a curve to the right (when not accelerating). I have a flowmaster 50, so it may make the noise all the time, I dunno, I can't hear a thing when accelerating. If anyone has any clue as to what this might be, I'd love to know. Thanks!

 

Try to relate it with some motion, tire rotation, drive shaft rotation... An area to consider would be some debris in your brakes or even a loose brake pad. Next have someone drive next to you and the pasenger in that vehicle might hear something or even have someone ride in the bed.

Good Luck
NHRA FAN

 

Thanks NHRA Fan. I'm gonna take it in monday to the dealership (since it's warranty work) and have them look at it... hopefully its nothing too serious. I talked to a guy from Advance Auto and he said basically the same as you... pobly brake pad or something along those lines.

 

Alright so some good news... and bad news...

Bad news... The rotors in the rear wheels were "too thin to rotate," so states the dealership receipt. My trany was also having some issues - it would downshift noticeably hard when slowing down around 25 MPH. And my front left cowl (or whatever its called) - the left plastic piece between the hood and windshield that the windshield wiper comes out of - kept popping up.

Good news.... Hurah!.... Given that I only had 12K miles on the truck, it was all warranty. They replaced the rear rotors (which correct me if Im wrong, only activate in 4WD, which wouldnt make sense why they're worn out, as Im hardly ever in 4WD screeching to a halt), They greased up the trany (or something like that) and replaced the cowl. Only bad thing was Im 18, so they couldnt give me anything else to drive, and they had my truck for a day and a half.

 

Is the mud you go through only on the road?
And the noise was?

 

No, like one time i got into mud and water almost over my front tire, and stepped up out the truck onto dry ground.... The noise was aparently the brake caliper in the back.... "too thin to rotate" ????? thats what they said, i dunno... it doesnt make it anymore, so its good with me

 

Negative good buddy. In fact, the rear brakes wear quicker than the fronts for the 2004-2008 F-150's.

Regardless, at only 12K miles, the rotors should have been fine. Which dealership did you take it to?

- NCSU

 

I bought (er, rather, my dad bought it) from Don Jenkins Carolina Ford over off of 401 near Hilltop. I've had a couple of minor problems w/ it, so I dunno what the deal is... but we got it brand new (98 mi. on it which it got at Dearborn) back in May for 15K less than what Crossroads Ford wanted for the same truck! The front left cowl kept popping up (replaced 2X now, finally fixed), and the rotor in the back (which you know about), and the tranny, which still seems to be downshifting kinda hard every now and then when I slow down to about 25MPH - who knows... Im not too worried about that, just worried about getting my 3" level kit off and a 2" put on to replace it