I was driving at 75 mph last nite and I heard a grinding sound like running over rumble strips for a couple of seconds and the truck slowed down and then everything was fine. It did this again in a few miles. I noticed a noise that sounded like something was dragging under me but then it quit. As I slowed to about 15 mph I could hear a sound like metal on metal.

Also, when I turn sharp either way there is a pop that I noticed for a couple of weeks.

When I put it in 4x4 and "stress" it by going through a small creek bottom, it made a slipping noise like it was grinding in and out of 4x4.

I know it sounds like a bearing issue, but which bearings? Also, could it be a pinion problem or a problem with my transfer case? How do I know?

 

Could have a wheel bearing hub going, or possibly the front drive line double cardigan (double u-joint) going out

I've already been through all those on mine 2005---2500 5.7

 

Welcome to the site. First you need to identify if it is coming from the front or rear.

For the front you can lift the tires of the ground and turn them and see if you can duplicate it.

 

asdfg

 

I'm 99% sure thats a wheel bearing, get it looked at A.S.A.P.
just did one on my truck 2 months ago

 

2500 is notorious for having the ball joints and front u-joints going bad. Worth a look.

 

My vote is wheel bearing also. Again, for the front you can lift the tires of the ground and turn them and see if you can duplicate it.

Make sure you do or do not have an ABS sensor on them and order accordingly. Price them out from several places but I dont think anyone beats Ebay.

 

OK, so I took the driver's side wheel off and when I turn the rotor I hear the bearings making the grinding sound. I havent looked at the passenger side yet.

My questions are:
1. What kind of hub assembly should I buy? I see that they range from $100/pair for PartsPlus and $200/pair for Timkin. Are the Timkin ones worth it?

2. Could the hub bearings be causing the "slipping" when I am in 4x4? I'm not sure that I understand how that could be causing the slipping or the pop when I turn. When the truck is jacked up i cant get it to reproduce the popping.

3. When I have the front end jacked up and I try to move the tire and wheel from side to side with my hands there is about a half inch play in movement. Should there be any play at all in it? If there is, does that confirm that the bearings are bad? There is more movement on the passenger side than the drivers side but not much difference.

Weedahoe, I looked at your link to the ball joint replacement and it was a HUGE help. Thanks for that!

 

If you are going to replace the bearing hubs on your 2500, you may want to replace the steering knuckle u-joints with greasable ones, so you don't have to do it again for a long while

I had a LOT of trouble getting my hubs out, but I had 140K miles on mine and salted Northern Indiana Roads too

You can rent a ball Joint press fron Advance Auto for nothing, but they need a $180 deposit