While driving, I can hear a “grinding” “rotating” sound under the driver side floor board. I believe I found the culprit and need your opinion/advice.

2001 3.0 supercab xlt 4x4.I don’t know anything about the lift. I do know the ratio is 4:11. If you need more pics or details, I’ll be happy to do so.

I believe that’s the prop shaft? I just bought this truck so I don’t have any info and of course the owner didn’t. Her husband died and it was parked for years so she decided to sell.

There is is no vibration or shaking, just the sound. And you mainly feel/hear it under the driver side floorboard. Maybe I can take a video of it in the cab while driving. But for now I’m posting these photos. Any idea how bad this is? What’s the issue or if it still can be driven for a week?

If this helps. It does take a couple tries to get it in 4x4 and out.

I noticed the grind marks and obviously this is an issue. Photo front to back of truck.
That’s from the back to the front of my engine.
Close up of the grind marks. Front to back of truck
Another close up of the grind marks. Photo is from front to back of truck.
Front to back of truck.

 

With a camera set up, that shaft doesn’t rub while driving. Maybe it was an issue the previous owners fixed? Or maybe it rubs under a heavy load or bumps.

But my wife things the sound is coming coming from something else by the wheel. I’ll post a photo of it with an arrow. So, I think it’s that or a wheel bearing. The sound in the cab It sounds like it goes with the rhythm of the tire rotating.

 

When jacked up and spinning the drivers side wheel. I can hear the grinding from the steering knuckle. There is a rubber gasket type thing that is loose on it. I’ll post a photo.

 

First that front drive shaft is most likely shot. Stock shafts shouldnt be used with a lift like that. Wears them out too quick. New one from superlift is $500 I believe.

It looks like the truck is outfitted with the now discontinued RCD 5.5" Coilover lift.

And what you are pointing at in the last picture is the hub bearing. They range from $150 to about $250 most of the time.

 

I had a mechanic check it out. From what he says, the right front wheels lower ball joint is shot to hell and needs a new hub assembly. Apparently the sound resignates and it sounds like it’s under the driver side floorboard when in the cab.

He also said the shaft seems fine but it’s missing a boot. He said when I get the boot he will look to see if any rocks or debri got inside where the shaft meets the cv.

He said the same thing you did about what type lift it is. He also pointed out that there is a new transmission bracket, and that could be why the shaft had scrape marks on it. That it must of happened with the previous owners and they fixed it.

He also is gonna re-weld the Gibson exhaust. He says it’s loose and doesn’t like the way they fit it. He pointed out that the fuel filter might be the wrong one because it won’t fit into its housing because it’s to big and was just hanging there.

Lol, I also showed him an after market switch I have on my dash and that I have no idea what it’s for. We followed it and this is what we found....

 

oh, and to add. The truck has class E 10 ply tires. He said those shouldn’t be on that truck. That the side walls are so stiff that I’d be able to feel every vibration.