AWFUL squeeling

[OldBlue67]

ok this might not be in the right place but its as close as I can figure. Blue has started this awful grating screech. It only happens when we're moving, isn’t affected by revving the engine, stepping on the brakes or clutch. It is affected by bumps in the road and (sometimes) sharp turns. It seems to get worse when we're going slow. It seems to be coming from the back...maybe the drivers side rear.

Robert thought it might be a wheel bearing gone dry, would that make that kind of nasty noise? I observed all of this on the drive home last night and Blues parked until I can get it fixed. Aside from not wanting to make it worse, its embarrassing!!

Oh the fun never stops

[FORDification]

Yep, sure sounds to me like you've got a bad wheel bearing.

[marz68]

[OldBlue67]

ok with more ears its obvious that its not comming from the wheel, but the driveline. Do U joints squeal like that when they go out? I thought they caused more of a clunking. Its in the area of the center u joint not far from the spline...thing (forgive the technical terms I'm only half awake ). We havent been able to figure out which part is making the noise.

Would it be safe to drive to the mechanics? I dont want something locking up on me or something (or getting far worse)

[heep70]

Don't over look the carrier bearing.

[72hiboy4x4]

yep that was my first thought - U-Joint or carrier bearing. should be safe to go, but not real far.
Easy fixes, both of them. do it in your driveway.
Last time I bought a carrier, it was like 15.00. u-joints are about 8 each. Change them both while its out, and make sure to grease them well.

[fordman]

ujoints are an easy home fix. all you need is a vise and some sockets. the carrier bearing is pressed on. try giving it a grease job and drive it around the block. see if that does anything. you can manually check the ujoints by grabbing the drive shaft and tring to turn it while the truck is in gear (manual) or park for an automatic. if you can move the shaft at all its a bad ujoint. if you cant then it could be the carrier bearing.

[Levi W. Kring]

Might sound stupid but is there anything rubbing the drive shaft. check for clearance. It happened to me. Stupid bailing wire.

[fordman]

ah yes far m country. i seen it before. usally around the axle just behind the hub. and bailing string too.

[OldBlue67]

well Levi at first I would have told you no. While we had it apart to repeplace the carrier bearing, after we'd been working on it for a good few hours (and by we I mean Robert and his buddys while I sat inside by the fire I've been so lazy since I got a mechanically inclined boyfriend) they noticed an inch wide shiny spot on the driveline as it turns out the carrier bearing was fine, one of the straps that hold the aux tank had worked its way unbolted and was rubbing on the driveline. Irritatingly enough I had missed it in the billion or so times that I had been under the truck looking for something rubbing and had felt all up and down the drive line. It had also been missed in the few hours the guys had spent under blue to pull the dang driveline so I dont feel as stupid (except for the part about them being under there a few hours to fix something that wasnt broken ). *sigh* well on the plus side my new carrier bearing is working like a charm and shouldnt need replaceing for a good long time

[theskytoucher]

i had a similiar experience only mine was that the carrier bearing came lose on one side and started rubbing on my exhaust. I felt really stupid when i found what it was almost a half hour later.