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Loud thumping noise with every tire rotation? What is it?

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Old 10-22-2012
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Icon5 Loud thumping noise with every tire rotation? What is it?

Just last night my truck began making a loud "whump....whump...whump..whump. whump" faster and faster as I accelerated. I had to take the interstate to get home and it was very loud and sounded awful. Right away I double checked for anything obvious like debris or something noticeably wrong but couldn't find anything so I continued home. I could feel it in the gas pedal and a little in the floorboard. The noise does go away when braking. Hopefully this means it is just something brake related like my rotors, correct? Not a wheel bearing or cv joint which my uncle suggested? I have not gone out to my truck yet today but I wanted to do some research before tearing stuff apart and throwing money at it.
Thanks a bunch guys, I like this truck!
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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I was gonna suggest that the tred may be falling apart but it would still make noise when braking... just get under the truck and make sure everything is tight. Can you tell where the sound is coming from? Or where about at least. Maybe a caliper is loose or something.
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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Originally Posted by Mcleary316
I was gonna suggest that the tred may be falling apart but it would still make noise when braking... just get under the truck and make sure everything is tight. Can you tell where the sound is coming from? Or where about at least. Maybe a caliper is loose or something.
Yeah I read about the tread or tire damage problems but they have over half tread and look to be okay.
And yeah, the noise completely goes away when I brake, almost made me want to drive around holding the brake, haha just kidding.
And it sounds like it is coming from the front right wheel. I am hoping it is a caliper or rotor problem over some of the other things it could be. Could a rotor be noticeably warped?

I changed my rear diff fluid and cover two days ago but the sound doesn't seem to be coming from there and I couldn't imagine how that could make things bad. I can rule that out correct?





 
Attached Thumbnails Loud thumping noise with every tire rotation? What is it?-20121019_121021_zps9a5f116c.jpg   Loud thumping noise with every tire rotation? What is it?-20121019_122311_zpsea385374.jpg   Loud thumping noise with every tire rotation? What is it?-20121019_134435_zps6b54121e.jpg  
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Old 10-22-2012
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Originally Posted by MichaelV
The noise does go away when braking. Hopefully this means it is just something brake related like my rotors, correct?
Check your caliper anchor plate bolts NOW. It is all too common for these to loosen after brake work due to undertorquing. The torque spec for these bolts is much higher than many owners might think.That's only one possibility for your noise but it's a good one and the consequences are not pretty.
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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I would do whatever rwenzing suggests haha.
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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Jacking her up right now! Will check those bolts. Thanks guys, I'll be right back.
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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Originally Posted by rwenzing
Check your caliper anchor plate bolts NOW. It is all too common for these to loosen after brake work due to undertorquing. The torque spec for these bolts is much higher than many owners might think.That's only one possibility for your noise but it's a good one and the consequences are not pretty.
Lost a wheel to this. I was going 10 mph. You dont want that happening going faster.
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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Originally Posted by PAShooter
Lost a wheel to this. I was going 10 mph. You dont want that happening going faster.
Wow, I'm pretty freaked out right now. Last night when it started making the sound I quickly checked over my truck right away, I even tried tightening three of the lug nuts on that wheel but it was dark out and I didnt see anything else wrong.
Well just now I look and find that two of the lug studs are broke. When I tried to take the wheel off, the lug nuts just spun and the studs with them. And I thought I broke one more lug nut loose trying to get it off but the stud must have broke and now it spins with it. So three of my lug nut studs spin freely. I can't even imagine how bad that would of been if the whole wheel broke off last night. I am very thankful and blessed it didn't.

But now I dont know how to get the wheel off? Looks like I need a new rotor / bearing assembly, correct?
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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Originally Posted by MichaelV
But now I dont know how to get the wheel off? Looks like I need a new rotor / bearing assembly, correct?
I think normally you should be able to get studs replaced at a shop, unless you're in some weird situation someone can't fix.
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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I bought a new rotor assembly but cannot get the wheel off with the broken studs. When I try to remove the nuts, the stud spins with it but I cannot pull off the wheel. Suggestions?

 
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Old 10-22-2012
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cut off wheel...maybe an impact will do the trick.
 
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Old 10-22-2012
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I would try to wedge the wheel as far over in one direction as possible so that the studs are pinched and hit it with an impact of just try and jolt it with a socket. If all else fails break out the grinder and cut off wheel.
 
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Old 10-23-2012
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x2 with Mcleary316. Happened to my aunts 94 a few months ago, 4 of her lug studs broke loose. Just pull on the tire and try and wedge the lug studs back into the rotor tightly while trying to loosen the lug nuts. If you lived closer I would give you a hand.
 
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Old 10-23-2012
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Another idea. weld the back of the studs. So they wont move.
 
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Old 10-23-2012
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Put something heavy and metal between the wheel and rotor. (you might need two guys to do this)
and you need to pry the wheel forward and rotor backward while hitting it with the impact.

If you have a long crowbar that fits, that would work. Or a really big screwdriver. You just need to put forward pressure on the wheel, and backwards on the rotor.
 
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Old 10-23-2012
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well step one for me would be pull the hub. I dont believe you will be able to however. grab an impact gun, pull with your hand on the tire towards you as you hit the lug with the gun. they should zip off.
 
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Old 10-23-2012
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Originally Posted by PAShooter
Another idea. weld the back of the studs. So they wont move.
If the stud brakes then your out a hub and not just a wheel stud becuase the stud is welded now and not just pressed in! just my .02
 
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Old 10-24-2012
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Thanks a lot for your guys' help. It's still up at a family friends' shop and they are going to get it fixed.
I already bought a new hub assembly with the pressed in studs and bearing so they can put that in when they get the wheel and the old one off. I have a fifth wheel so worse case scenario, the wheel gets destroyed but I'd rather not have that happen. Nate and Alex are both right. They hardly had time to do much to it yesterday because when they were pulling it into their garage, the belt tensioner broke and the belt exploded under the hood so they replaced that, funny thing is I had just bought a new serp belt and it was in the back seat. When it rains, it pours huh? Haven't had a single problem with my Ranger in over a year.. haha. Anyways, hopefully they can get it off with their impacts and wedging it so I can get it back! Thanks again with your guys' help. And just to clarify, you cannot get to the back of the studs, especially with the abs ring sensor thing.
 
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Old 10-24-2012
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Originally Posted by MichaelV
When it rains, it pours huh?.
Oh boy, is that ever true. But be careful, for me there's some sayings loaded with bad voodoo, and that's one of them.
 
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Old 10-24-2012
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Originally Posted by kyle ranger
If the stud brakes then your out a hub and not just a wheel stud becuase the stud is welded now and not just pressed in! just my .02
I only said that because he bought a new hub already.

Sounds like you are getting it taken care of, good luck.
 
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Old 10-25-2012
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Thanks guys, I still don't have it back yet because the shop its at are doing it as a side project so hopefully it gets done today. Guess I can't complain though because I don't have to do it and I will admit I love driving around with the roar of 7.3 turbo diesel. It's my uncles F350 and I get to use it till mine is fixed!
 
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Old 10-26-2012
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Originally Posted by MichaelV
I will admit I love driving around with the roar of 7.3 turbo diesel. It's my uncles F350 and I get to use it till mine is fixed!
Lucky! A mid-late 90's (square body) crew cab longbed 4x4 powerstroke is my dream truck.
 
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