Front axle problems
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Northern Kentucky
Front axle problems
I think I found my prblem and it's not good...
I've been having a bump bump feeling in the steering of my 97 F150 4x4 for about 2 months now and lately a little vibration like a tire out of balance. On my way to the track last Saturaday it felt like it had gotten worse. I had been checking and searching everything on my truck including pratically brand new parts and couldn't find much wrong. My only clue and what I thought might be the problem was the steering shaft from the steering wheel down to the gear box.
Today I pulled the driver side wheel off and was checking things out. I was laying under the truck and started pushing and pulling the inner CV up and down. There seems to be quite a bit of play here, probably about a 1/16- 3/16's or more up and down, compared to the passenger sides 1/16-1/8 maximum. Does anyone know if this is normal?
It doesn't seem to be in the CV itself as the mounting flange out of the front diff is moving also. It looks and feels like the bearing that the CV rides on in there is shot. What is wierd is it makes no noise and rotates smoothly with and without the wheel on there. There is also no gear oil slung anywhere I can find and it is filled to the max. The gear oil was changed about a year ago and was milky when it came out and again in a years time it's pretty milky looking again.
I guess this may mean that I have a major repair bill coming up as I know the whole frontend will need to be dropped. I'm pretty sure I can't do this myself. Would a shop press will be needed just to install one axle shaft bearing? If one bearing is gone, others are not far behind I would assume. If I have to have the frontend dropped, should I go ahead and splurge for that set of gears I've been wanting? Be a perfect time but I'm not sure of the added cost. What should I expect as far as labor on just bearing installs vs doing bearings and gears? Who are the good gear manufacturers again? Where are the best prices at?
Sorry for the long story.. Just frustrated and at a lost on what to do. Man I want that new truck soooooo bad.
I've been having a bump bump feeling in the steering of my 97 F150 4x4 for about 2 months now and lately a little vibration like a tire out of balance. On my way to the track last Saturaday it felt like it had gotten worse. I had been checking and searching everything on my truck including pratically brand new parts and couldn't find much wrong. My only clue and what I thought might be the problem was the steering shaft from the steering wheel down to the gear box.
Today I pulled the driver side wheel off and was checking things out. I was laying under the truck and started pushing and pulling the inner CV up and down. There seems to be quite a bit of play here, probably about a 1/16- 3/16's or more up and down, compared to the passenger sides 1/16-1/8 maximum. Does anyone know if this is normal?
It doesn't seem to be in the CV itself as the mounting flange out of the front diff is moving also. It looks and feels like the bearing that the CV rides on in there is shot. What is wierd is it makes no noise and rotates smoothly with and without the wheel on there. There is also no gear oil slung anywhere I can find and it is filled to the max. The gear oil was changed about a year ago and was milky when it came out and again in a years time it's pretty milky looking again.
I guess this may mean that I have a major repair bill coming up as I know the whole frontend will need to be dropped. I'm pretty sure I can't do this myself. Would a shop press will be needed just to install one axle shaft bearing? If one bearing is gone, others are not far behind I would assume. If I have to have the frontend dropped, should I go ahead and splurge for that set of gears I've been wanting? Be a perfect time but I'm not sure of the added cost. What should I expect as far as labor on just bearing installs vs doing bearings and gears? Who are the good gear manufacturers again? Where are the best prices at?
Sorry for the long story.. Just frustrated and at a lost on what to do. Man I want that new truck soooooo bad.
Last edited by KYFordFreak; Sep 3, 2002 at 12:42 AM.