The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Growling, grinding noise

I was driving my '49 3100 this evening and was startled by a sudden growling, grinding noise which seemingly came from my right front. I have owned my beloved truck for about 2 months now and have driven it only short distances on weekends and evenings. Recently I adjusted the brakes and in the process tightened the front right hub nut. Not being a mechanic, and learning as I go, I did not realize that it needed to be torqued properly at 35 ft. lbs. I don't think I got it too tight, but I haven't checked again since.The noise first appeared when I slowed suddenly to make a quick left turn off the highway. It stopped making that God awful sound thereafter but reappeared close to home coming up a hill. Does anyone have any idea what may be causing this? Brakes? Bearings? I'm not even sure that it's coming from the right front but it seems that way. I'm not sure where to start looking for the source and fixing it. Anyone experience anything similar?
Aloha,
Rich

sounds like you got the bearing nut to tight it needs to be torqued to around 20 to 25 then spin the wheel a few rounds then back the nut off and tighten just enough to remove any side to side movement

check the bearings,repack them with wheel bearing grease.Never had the problem till you tightened things up.So back track an you'll find the problem.If it ain't broke,don't fix it.

Thanks guys for your input. I'm wondering though why the bearings would make so much awful noise. I haven't put many miles (maybe 20) on the truck since doing the adjustments. Would a sound like that indicate bearing replacement is in order? Is there anything else that might make that sort of sound? Brakes?

If you had your wheel hub assembly off and when you put it back on you didn't tighten the nut correctly then that may have caused your bearing to unseat. I know, happened to me!

But it does sound like a bearing....

could also be a broken brake return spring

rh

Ahh. Broken brake return spring. This may be more likely as I did not ever have the wheel hub assembly off. The first time I heard the sound was after applying the brakes somewhat forcefully. I will attempt to be a mechanic (which I am not) and pull it apart this weekend. I will report back with my findings.
Thanks again everyone!
Rich

Hi Stovebolters,

I pulled the wheel off this evening to have a look. Mind you I'm not a mechanic though I'm plenty comfortable with a wrench in my hand. I didn't find anything loose or broken as I expected to find. What I did find was that the inside of the wheel just above the lip has a thin scrape mark. Checking the brake shoes I detected a shiny spot on the top corner of the front shoe. I'm thinking I turned the bearing nut too tight and caused the scraping. I'm not sure what to look for in determining the condition of the outer bearing, but it looks o.k. to me. My plan is to get up early, buy some bearing grease, repack the outer bearing and put it all back together - this time torquing it properly.
What do you think? Comments would be appreciated.
Aloha,
Rich