Hi;

I'm driving an 89 W150 Ram, 4x4. I get a grinding noise from the front end, sounds like its coming from the wheeel or axel on the drivers side. In 2 wheel drive, its starts as an intermittant grind and progresses to a constant grind after a few kilometers. If I shift into 4x4, the grinding stops. If I drive for 10-15 kilometers in 4x4 and shift back into 2 wheel drive, the grinding has stoped but then starts its cycle again after 10 km or so (intermittant building up to continuous). IT doesn't appear to be any different whether in turns or straight driving. I had a look at the inner and outer bearings in the left hub, they appear OK but I'm no expert.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers;
Peter

 

Did you check brakes and drums? If you have cheacked bearings, that would be my next option.

Is it an automatic or 4 speed? Check clutch and fluwheel?

 

Thanks for the suggestions dtherren. I did check the brakes (pads, rotors and calibers) before the bearings. Nothing wrong there. After more experimentaion have narrowed the problem down to the auto locking hubs. The syncro/auto-locking mechanism is on the drivers side front axle on this model. Something is loose, ie thesyncronizer ring or lever, inside the axle. I have found that if I took the spring clip off of the axle end and moved the shaft in/out a few times, replace the sprin clip again, the grinding disappears for a few days but then returns. This also repeats. I'll wait for the warmer weather to attempt to take apart the axle.

Thanks again for the hints;
Peter