The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Noises and vibrations in the front end

I was driving my 58' around and it started to make some noises and some vibrations from the driver side front wheel. I pulled over and looked underneath it and couldn't see anything. I pulled the wheel off and checked a few things but nada came up. I did notice how my tie rod was connecting to the wheel. I looked a little off, no side to side because my steering hasnt been affected, but it did seem to be loose going front-to-back. I also will check by bearing but I am leaning towards the tie rod.

Has anyone experianced this type of problem before? Any ideas/ solutions would be greatly appreciated! I will try to post some picture, but all I have is my phone for that. Pre-Thank you to all!

Ok, after closer inspection I believe it is my wheel bearing. This just kinda stinks because I don't have all the tools to fix it right away.

if you didn't feel it in the steering wheel, it's unlikely to do with the tie rod - did you spin the drum when you had the wheel off? or better, take the drum off and look at the bearings and brakes? and you might also check the spring shackles for wear that lets them shift side to side

Bill

I did not feel it in the steering wheel. I did spin the drum but all I felt was the drag of the brakes. I will give the bearing and brakes a good going over tomarrow when the sun comes out ! Thanks for the ideas and help!

EDIT: I forgot to add that the sounds are sometimes intermittent and sometimes a steading grinding. More and more its sounding like the bearings.

I've noticed that front wheel bearing noise will be amplified when you turn one way or the other while driving. Weight shift, loads the defective bearing.

Brakes really shouldn't be dragging...a bad bearing will also run hotter..feel the hub...but a brake dragging will also.

Sounds like it's time to pull the wheels and check for dry and galled bearings.

I heard grinding noises when my wheel bearing went bad but sence my truck always makes noises i didnt think anything of it until i got the my auto shop class and looked at the wheel. The hub had exploded and the outer bearing was gone so was most of the hub im lucky that my wheel did not come off.

But ya its not that hard to change the wheel bearings and i was lucky the local pick and pull had a 62 chevy tat i could get a new hub from.

just thought id tell my story.

Well I took it apart and the bearings are fine. I tightened them up a little more and it still is happening, but I did notice that there is a little too much play in the king pin. Would a loose or damaged king pin cause these kind of symptoms? Thank you all for you help so far!

yes - shouldn't be any play, should only turn smoothly .... and hopefully you didn't tighten those wheel bearing toooo tight

Bill

Well good thing I already have replacement king pins, I just havent gotten around to replacing them yet. If the bearings are too tight it wont matter because the truck is going to sit in my parking lot until I get the rest of the tools and parts down here to fix it. Thanks alot red58 for all your help and every one else!

Make sure you get the lug nuts properly tightened as well. Loose lug nuts will cause the vibration/noises that you are hearing in addition to kingpins. The preferred method is to use a torque wrench, the spec is 45-65 ft/lbs for a '55-'59 1/2 ton.