[n8cas]

Hello from Central CT. I recently bought a used 2004 Silver Titan 5.6 LE 4x4 v8 Endurance 340. It has 90 k miles on it. It had a complete Front differential unit replaced by a previous owner at 75k miles. The front is starting to hum pretty bad and I'm worried. I took it to a local guy and he's not positive what's going on. After looking at a few threads on here, it seems this is a VERY common problem for my truck. My questions are:

How long can I drive it around before it completely fails on me?

What's the best solution given my situation (I don't want to put too much money into a 90 K truck that JUST had a new front differential installed around 15k miles ago.

Are there any quick fixes that will get me through the winter? Or do I have to bite the bullet and get a whole new Front Diff?

Thanks for your help.

 

[robstrevor]

Are you positive its the front diff? Wheel hubs are a common problem for higher mileage trucks too. If you dont need 4x4 you could remove the half shafts temporarily.

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[n8cas]

Are you positive its the front diff? Wheel hubs are a common problem for higher mileage trucks too. If you dont need 4x4 you could remove the half shafts temporarily.

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I am not 100 percent sure, actually. The guy I took the truck said something about how he dropped the drive shaft - but that wasn't necessarily it. So, maybe I'm somewhat safe? He thinks it's a hub kit on the driver's side, but he's not entirely sure. The noise has gotten worse since he's looked at it, and I don't want to replace something that isn't specifically the problem. What does a hub kit job normally go for - around 350$ ? He did mention one right side differential leaking fluid, but I forget if he said front or back??

That, and I do have to use 4x4 Low to back up (in reverse) my 3500 lb 18 ft bass boat and trailer up my steep long driveway to store in my barn portico. After reading the Sticky in this forum, this practice is NOT advisable. I don't know how else I can get my boat up without reversing it - there is literally no way to park my boat in the barn portico without doing the whole steep driveway in reverse.

 

[robstrevor]

Well checking hubs is easy to rule out. Just Jack the front end up and try and move the tire in and out. If there is any play it's the hub. I wouldn't think a front difficulty with 15k would go already.

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[n8cas]

There is no play in either front tire when jacked up.

 

[robstrevor]

Well I hate to say it but the front diff is starting to sound like a good possibility.

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[FishnAlaska]

Max for a hub would be less than $400 replaced at the dealership. Just had one done last week. If the front diff is leaking, it definitely is a problem. I think you would be fine backing up the boat, just watch your temp. Backing things up in reverse on a steep grade is for items that are way heavier than the boat - 7-8k trailers

 

[trail Rider]

I know from experience. If its the front hubs it will sound like a tire grinding sound. It will get louder & more severe the faster you drive with vibrations likely. But if there is no give at all on the tires (when jacked up) when you pull back & forth, likely not the hub.

 

[n8cas]

If you jack up the volume you should be able to hear it pretty well in the audio I recorded of the truck today. Especially further into the track :45 seconds in.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwr2s87FptiHdWZtWlV1SURJMEE/view?usp=sharing

 

[trail Rider]

A little hard to tell, but that does sound like it could be wheel bearings to me. It sounds like the faster you go the louder the grinding gets. What are the actual driving symptoms if any? Are there any vibrations? is there any burning smell? Do your front rotors & pads look OK?

 

[n8cas]

Rotors and pads are okay - previous owner (with little experience) did them. It DOES get louder when I go faster. There?s no real vibration feel. I think it?s definitely Some bearing to me. I?ve been driving around my old Dodge Ram that has a bad carrier or pinion bearing in the back and it?s very similar - the noise just comes from the back instead.

 

[Shane Jones]

The most common issues with the frontbdiffs were C clips that hold in the right side shaft. The diff has to be removed and torn apart to fix and it was just cheaper to buy a new one.

If yours is starting to make noise try changing out the fluid first. Previous owner could have put in junk lube

 

[n8cas]

It's starting to feel "grindy" now. The sound/feel doesn't change when steering one way or the other. It seems that even though the entire front Diff was changed out at 75k (currently at 90k), it seems to be the problem. I have the receipt for the job that the previous owner did. Can I call this shop up and ask about warranty? I don't want to put more money into this truck - it was just meant to get me through the winter.