RTH BOISE: Hub separation @ speed

[ralphy1997]

Always good to see a happy ending!

 

[retrofive]

Excellent Ammo

 

[ewillis]

Thanks again guys, ya I'm thinking wheel bearing failue... Ouch.... Any other opinions?

- Matt

Retro...

Boy that sounds all to fimilar... And the pics could be my own... Glad we both lived to tell the story!

-Matt

P.S. The rig will return, better then ever I'm sure... That's how it goes right? Break it, fix it... Usually not at 75mph tho... Leave that for the trophy trucks and dezzy guys!

I've heard you allude to this experience multiple times over the years and it has always stuck in the back of my mind as one of the worst case scenarios out there. Fast forward to today and I'm driving down the freeway at about 70mph and I hear a sound that resembles when you drive a little too close to the embankment and hit the serrations in the asphalt, but more metallic. My rig did this intermittently on the way to the destination and I passed it off as just inconsistency in the asphalt, but on my way home it made this noise for about 15 seconds straight that had me merging to the right shoulder like a mad man with visions of your fiery 37 floating by! I thought long and hard about how to articulate the sound, but it really seemed like a noise a bearing might make when beginning to deteriorate. After I made it to the slow lane, I limped home the last 10 miles or so with no noises whatsoever. Did you remember having any strange noises coming from the front end prior to the separation? I read yours and @woody threads and did not see any warning sounds indicated at all.
Note: I did complete a rebuild a couple months ago and just returned from a 600 mile trip and experienced some steering wander but no noises.
Thanks, Eric

 

[AMMO]

I can't say that I remember any specific warning sound or notice right before it let loose... Then again running 37" Irocks back then with no carpet (interior is linex'd) I'm not sure I'd hear anything if it did.

Reflecting back now I do recall hearing a "squeak" from the drivers front wheel like a squeaky bearing that needs oil... Waaaaay before it ever let go that I ignored... That was before the 3K trip CA to NJ.

The whole "shebang" let go on the return trip a year or so later...

I guess lesson here is to jack up the truck and check from time to time 12 & 6 and then 9 & 3.

Any wiggle at 12 & 6 and I'm breaking out the toque wrench.

-Matt