Hey all,

I was driving the other day, 65mph, and I got a vibration that lasted about five seconds. It sounded like I ran over the ridges they cut on the side of the interstate, that kind of hum and vibrate to wake you up when you are wandering off the road half asleep. I was on smooth black top, so I pulled over to check things out. I felt each hub, and none of them were warm. I checked under the hood and everything looked fine. I could very faintly smell something that smelled hot, but it was very faint. I got back in and drove about another hour and it happened again. It didn't seem to change in frequency as I slowed down, then it stopped making the noise and everything seemed fine. It took about another hour to get home and it never did it again.
My truck is a very well maintained '98 T100, 4x4 extended cab with about 112,000 miles on it. Other than that, it seems to be running fine. I changed the timing belt and water pump at 90,000. Any ideas??????
Thanks
Winkel <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I forgot to mention, I have lock-out hubs, they were unlocked. I checked the trans fluid, transfer case (just a tad low), and the rear diff (also a tad low). I added fluid to the tranny and rear diff. The vibration seemed to be coming up through the floor, but it's hard to pinpoint those kind of things.

Thanks again,
Wink

This may be way off but I have had the plastic piece inside the front fend come loose and the wind hit it just right and I thought the truck was falling apart. Since it doesn't change with speed it doesn't sound drive train related so you might check everything underneath to see if something is loose and flapping. Good luck.

i seem to recall something in the way of vibes before my flex plate finally went.

attn waterman - did yours do this?

I also had a "burning" odor coming from my truck the last week or so. Does that happen when the flex plate is giving out?
Just had my timing belt and water pump replaced a couple of weeks ago at the dealership.

Thanks, Brad <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Well, I finally figured it out. I was driving down the interstate the other day and it started vibrating bad enough that the airbag light on my dash came on. I popped it in neutral, and shut the engine off, and the vibration didn't go away. It felt like it was coming from the right front, and occasionally it would pull to the right slightly. At lower speeds it stopped. The right hub was a little warmer than the other so that's what I tore into when I got home. I put Warn lock outs on a couple of years ago, and the right one had water in it. It had corroded enough that the axle shaft was chattering in the brass bushing in the center of the lockout. I took it all apart, cleaned it and regreased it, repacked the wheel bearings while I had it apart (they were fine but it seemed like the thing to do while I had it apart), and the noise is now gone. I ordered a service kit for the hubs and will rebuild when I get it. Just thought I'd follow up in case someone else encounters the same problem. Luckily it didn't strand me or cost a lot of money!!

Winkel

Guys,

I know most of you probably do this, but it has diagnosed more than one problem for me. If you are having problems with a vibration, or pulling and suspect bearings or brakes, feel the hubs after driving a while. They should be about the same temperature front to front, and back to back as the other side. Years ago, I was with my dad and he was going to check out a job site. It had been raining a lot and we drove through some deep water in his old F150. A little later I had to take a leak, so he pulled off onto a side road. I didn't much like that truck, so while I was peeing I peed on the back wheel in subtle defiance. When I did, it sizzled. It was hot as hell. He told me to adjust the side mirror to keep an eye on it, and we made it to within about a mile of home before it started smoking. Ever since then, I check my hubs from time to time. Just food for thought.

Winkel <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />