02 Ford making unknown noise PLEASE HELP !

Tiny
JAY_C911
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD F-150
This is a post I put up in f150forums. Com, alot of folks are posting this problem see what ya think THANKS in advance !

Sounds like we need a recall ! Lol



I hate that everyone is having this same aggravating noise that I am but its also nice to know that I am not crazy and just hearing things or that I am the only one with this problem. It sounds like a problem alot of folks are having so it would be nice if FORD looked into this. (Dont know if that is a possibility or not) But I forgot to mention in my post that I work with a guy that has an 01 and he is starting to have the same problem. Also I forgot to add that it was mentioned to me that maybe it was the dust shields rubbing? Hard to tell but here is my previous post as well. THANKS IN ADVANCE IF YOU CAN HELP !

Ive got the same problem and thats why I am here. Lol



I was hoping to run across a thread of this nature. I have a 2002 Fx4 F140 5.4 V8 with approx 63,000 miles on it and I am having the same noise from what appears to be the front drivers side. It may possibly be throwing the sound from somewhere else on the truck but when it is on a rack you cannot hear the noise its almost like the weight of the truck has to be on the tires. It started off that we knocker all the dirt and rust from the rotors. Still didnt help. Next we changed the pads on the truck, there was a lil less than half pad left but we changed them anyway. We replaced them with lifetime pads still no luck, next was (well it is making a noise at a certain spot everytime the wheel rolled in a certain spot) so we changed out the rotars because I was told maybe the rotars where warped. Then came the sanding down of the rotars in spots were rust was built up. Then I was told that a mechanic had worked on a truck with that similar problem and the pads werent shifting correctly and they "grinded" some of the pad out. But I knew that wouldnt fix it because it was doing it before this new set of pads and the noise stays there when the brake is applied. Next came the almighty wheel bearing $320 for parts and labor but I got lucky and that was not the problem either because it still made the noise after the new bearing was put on so they took the new one off and put the old one back on and didnt charge me for anything but I would have gladly paid the 320 if it would have taken care of the aggravating noise. The "noise" originally started at around 45 miles per hour and slowed down with the speed of the truck almost like it is "catching" in one certain spot. Now it is also heard when driving at a slow speed and is extremely irritating. I have had it at 2 different shops and with no luck the noise is still there, I am gonna try and take it to a ford dealer once I get some extra cash but for now any advice would be greatly appreciated. I can only describe it as a whistly type rubbing or catching noise with the rotation of a tire. It sounds like the front drivers side but I have been told that noises like that can be "thrown" from another tire for example I do not have much knowledge at all about vehicles but im not totally ignorant to things either but this is mind boggling. I love my ford and I dont want to burn it but the noise makes me want to ! Lol PLEASE HELP !
Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 AT 5:12 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
LOSONE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,616 POSTS
I have seen and corrected this problem a number of times in shop operation over the past 40+ years.

Ford calipers are known to be bad as well as the rubber brake lines. The caliper doesn't release all the way causing a nasty noise rubbing noise

Many mechanics resurface Ford rotors. They are made of composite material and can't be resurfaced. Oh, you can resurface them but you go past the hard material and into softer metal. This causes the rotors to warp after a short time and add to the nasty little noise. The noise will also occur when the rotors wear past the hard surface.

Rule of thumb. At about 60K replace the calipers, brake lines, rotors with good heavy duty brake pads.
I just finished the job on my E-450 RV chassis.

NOTE: Stay away from components made in China. The metal is horrible!
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Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 AT 5:46 PM
Tiny
JAY_C911
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So my problem lies in the caliper then? Ive changed the rotors already so what exactly do I need to do and what kind of price range am I looking at. THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP !
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Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 AT 6:04 PM
Tiny
LOSONE
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Both sides with lines less than $100.00 from NAPA
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Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 AT 6:06 PM
Tiny
JAY_C911
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Thanks again. My fingers are crossed. I hope this solves it because I was about to go crazy. Lol I hope you dont mind but I went in and added your response to my message in f150online forums because there were alot of folks in there with that same problem. I will get back at ya with the results ! Wish me luck ! Thanks
Jason
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Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
LOSONE
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After 40 + years as a garage owner and retired to the RV life style about half the year, I enjoy helping people. Feel free to post anything I say anywheres, although I don't say good things about rhe Zone.
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Tuesday, May 9th, 2006 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
JAY_C911
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Just wanted to check back with you before I had the work done. Even though the noise does not change or go away when I press the brake it could still be the caliper? Just wanted to double check and thanks again !
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Thursday, May 11th, 2006 AT 1:17 AM
Tiny
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Humm--please check the metal shield in the back of the caliper housing for loosness and rubbing before you replace the calipers.

The caliipers have a mild drag on the rotors to prevent a "clack" when you apply the brakes. Can you hear the noise if you jack up a wheel and spin the tire?
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Thursday, May 11th, 2006 AT 8:24 AM
Tiny
JAY_C911
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No it cant be heard, its almost like there has to be weight on the tires for something to expand. We have replaced everything but the caliper and hoses. We even changed the bearing and it wasnt it so they put the old one back on for me. If noise on changes with how fast the tires roll. A squeky rubbing or dragging noise is then heard. When the brake applies the noise slows down because the truck is slowing down but it doent stop the noise completley when you brake.
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Thursday, May 11th, 2006 AT 3:01 PM
Tiny
LOSONE
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If the noise is an even scrap or squeal it is the caliper with minor pressure. The way to test a caliper is to drive the truck when you hear the noise. Without touching the brake pedal, open the bleeding screw. If there is any fluid that squirt, you have a caliper or line problem. Normal would be a tiny drip not under pressure.

If the noise is uneven it is a warped rotor. I have seen many new out of country rotors warped new out of the box.

Note: Some less expensive brake pads are so course that they make noise all the time. I paid $95.00 for the HD pads on my E-450 to get rid of the rubbing noise.

Insure you put a generous amount of anti-squeal on the back surface of the pads.

Let me know
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Friday, May 12th, 2006 AT 7:40 AM

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