Advice For 100k Miles

[scottmoyer]

Guys,

I made my final truck payment last week and was looking forward to no payments, but....

 

Over the past 25k miles or so, the front end seems sloppy when hitting bumps. It almost feels like a bad strut on a front wheel drive car with the feel of wheel bounce. It's not that bad, but similar. I did have a local tire shop that rotates and balances my tires check all front end components awhile back and they said it was very tight. I believe it to be the wheel hub assembly so I'm thinking about replacing both sides. At 100k miles, and still original hubs, it's probably due. Anybody else think that could be what I feel even though I was told all front end components are tight?

 

Second, while reading about the wheel hub swap, I came across someone that suggested to run 4WD every now and then. In Florida, I haven't run it hardly at all. I did so today and heard a nasty grinding sound and the feel of bad wheel bearings. You know the metal rotating inside metal without any lube feel. Is that normal? I can't remember. I had a 2001 Z71 in Minnesota that I used 4WD all the time in the snow and don't remember it being so rough sounding. If I remember correctly, it was always in Auto 4WD. If I do that here, I feel it oin the gas pedal like it's moaning. All fluids have been maintained.

 

Any ideas or suggestions? Is this normal operation? Thanks

[acg523]

I had that same "metal on metal" grinding noise around 72k on the left side- replaced the left hub assembly last November. Just last week the same thing was going on on the right side (83k miles). If you've made it to 100k on the original hubs then I'd say it's about time to replace them. Even without the grinding noise, I could tell a difference while driving (like you described). They're not cheap, but hey, what is these days?