weird "clicking" from rear axle

[LCAM-01XA]

At least that's where I think it's coming from, passenger side rear wheel. it's pretty loud too, and it's dependent on vehicle speed - the faster truck is moving, the faster the clicking. Truck's in the garage now, wheels and brake drums are off, and when I fire it up and put it in gear I hear no abnormal noises from the hubs. But then again, this is in the air, with no radial load on the hubs... When I try to turn the hubs by hand, it feels like the passenger-side is a bit "sticky", really neither turns smooth like a front wheel hub does, but the passenger side feels a bit "stickier", if that makes any sense... I'll be pulling the axle shafts shortly to inspect the bearings, what wear pattern should I look for? Also, where can I get new bearings? I was about to leave for my buddy's bachelor's party two states away tomorrow evening, so I kinda need to figure out and fix this right away... Your thoughts and suggestions please?

 

[freebird01]

through up a pic if you can...you will see grooves in the races...pitting on the rollers or they could even be a different color.

chances are its a bearing

 

[reklund]

Rock in the tire? I've diagnosed more than one customer concern with bearing noise to be a rock stuck in the tire tread...

Ryan

 

[LCAM-01XA]

A rock that's stuck in the tire tread can make that much noise? Cause I could hear it very clearly over the engine noise, and I have an open exhaust!

 

[reklund]

running with the windows open, yes. Especially up against a curb or a wall, it can be very noticable.

Just suggested it in the hopes it's something simple!

Ryan

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Damn, I'll go pull the wheels back in the garage (threw them outside cause they take up so much space) and see if I can find something. I do live on a gravel driveway, and the first time I heard the noise was in the driveway crawling up to the neighbor's yard through our back road...

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Well darn, pulled the axle shaft, now hub spins nice and free - well, it has some resistance from the seals, but it's very smooth with no abnormal noises or scratchy-catchy feel to it. I'm putting this thing back together, this time without the chrome wheel covers, hopefully the noise is gone. Oh yah, checked the tires, and there were a few small stones indeed, so go figure...

 

[Agnem]

You can always rotate the tires to rule out a stone issue.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

Mel, I did last night, and took it for a drive and couldn't really hear much of anything. I'll run off to the hardware store in a bit, and see what noises I get then.