Hi all. Firstly, before I get to my issue, is there a secret way to search this forum for short words? It ignores words like "oil" or "CV" because they are too short.

My truck (2003, 1500 4WD) is not a daily driver. I put on about 3K miles a year, mostly to the dump or the home improvement store, but in the winter I drive it more like once a week to account for bad weather. A couple of days ago, I drove it because of a lot of snow fall. That means I'm in and out of 4WD here and there. At some point, nearly all the way to work, I became aware of thumping/rubbing kind of noise that was entirely speed related. It was more obvious on right hand turns, but did persist as I went straight. The intensity would change depending on if I swerved a bit in either direction. On the way home that night, the noise just stopped and all seemed well. I couldn't get it to come back. This morning, it's back, but not as consistent. The noise is pretty obvious on right hand turns, but not really on straight ways or left turns.

My first reaction was that I probably have a bad CV joint, but it didn't really have any *click* to the noise, and wasn't persistent. I also didn't try to jack the truck up since the noise had went away. I looked around the wheel for evidence of rubbing, but nothing I can find.

I do know that I have a bad ball joint or tie rod end (three more words that I can't search for). It's either been extremely cold, or snowy here, so I haven't had much outdoor time to spend with the truck. Given the few miles I put on, I didn't think that would be a priority before spring.
I originally thought that the noise from the ball joint was my transfer case. I have never been able to get my fill plug out, so I haven't changed the fluid, and the transfer case seal leaks a tiny bit. I paid the dealer ship $200 to replace the seal, fill plug, and fluid. So for all I know they messed up the axle while torching out the plug. They diagnosed the ball joint, btw.

So any ideas? It's really either very cold, or very snowy up here in the north, so I'm hoping you all can point me in the right direction and save me some time outside

 

Ive had that search problem before too. It sucks.

If the noise is more persistent while making a right turn vs left, it may be your wheel bearing. On vehicles i've owned the noise from a wheel bearing isn't constant. Other than the left vs right but even in straight lines there were times that the noise would start up. It wasn't ever really constant. I'd also notice it a lot more on cold mornings vs warm days.

 

Maybe rubbing against snow in wheel well area that looses and fall out before you took a look at it?

 

Well, I was hopeing to jack the truck up a look around this weekend, but I spent all my time shoveling the roof, and clearing the drive way. Honestly, 2 days of playing with heavy snow.

I'm confident it's not snow. I've stuck my head in the wheel well and it's such a profound sound, I can feel it.

I can see it being a wheel baring. I can remember that on an old car, but it's rough enough that it feels rotational. I drove the truck again last Thursday/Friday because of the snow and the problem was pretty obvious on right turns, and occasional on straightaways.

There's too much snow and ice right now to safely jack up the truck, but I'm hoping to borrow some garage space. My garage is too short to fit the whole truck in.