k10 grinding noise

[Matt Man]

Well my truck is experiencing its first problem, I drive down the road and sometimes the right front makes a grinding sound, it only does it sometimes and if I slow down completely it goes away. I jacked up the wheel no play in the wheel bearing or balljoints and was professionally aligned to spec. Anybody have any clues to what it is?

Seems to be worse in the rain
Doesn't do it all the time
Can be felt in the steering wheel
Braking doesn't seem to effect it

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Could be a driveshaft universal joint. An easy fix.

[Matt Man]

I'm assuming the front? The rear was shortened and rebuilt last November. The truck also had manual warn hubs, but are about 17 years old.

[1976gmc20]

Spindle bearing, maybe ???

[CBR_Rob]

I was tracking down a grinding sound for a couple weeks. Always heard it when turning then it would go away. Finally heard it with the Blazer parked on level ground looked all over and saw the sparks from the balancer hitting the front crossmember. Replied the motor mounts and no problems with the grinding noise after that.

[wildwilly4x4]

take the hub off and check the wheel bearing. Checking for up/down play just by jacking it up and grabbing the tire doesn't always show a bad bearing. Sometimes the caliper holds the rotor tight enough that you cant feel anything bad. If you haven't been into the wheel bearings in the last year or two, I would certainly visually check them. I repack the front about every 8-10k miles. sometimes more if ive been in deep mud or water. usually have at least one side that needs replacement.

[Matt Man]

I repacked the front bearings a year ago when I first picked the truck up (the wheel bearings were loose). I will check them and report back here.

[barry1982]

I had a similar problem a few years ago with my 82 . Turns out the manual locking hub on one side was not unlocking. My hubs were old as well, installed a new set of Warn hubs, and problem went away. Also repacked the front wheel bearings at the same time.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

I repacked the front bearings a year ago when I first picked the truck up (the wheel bearings were loose). I will check them and report back here.

Once you go in that deep, you might as well pull off the six nuts that hold the spindle and replace the needle bearing that supports the outboard end of the axle.

[wildwilly4x4]

replace the spindle needle bearing with a plastic bushing from Longfield or RCV ( I think that's the ones making them now), much better design

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by wildwilly4x4

replace the spindle needle bearing with a plastic bushing from Longfield or RCV ( I think that's the ones making them now), much better design

Interesting...

I never had one go out except when I was in Alaska, where I had (I think) three of them fail in under two years

The symptom was always an intermittent loud buzzing noise from one of the front wheels.

[Matt Man]

So I took the passenger side hub off and I think the seal is not very good, there was dirt and some moisture in there. I cleaned the hub the best I could and put some grease in there. I took apart the other side and it looked fine, but I cleaned and put some grease in there as well. The passenger side hub doesn't engage as well as the drivers side but it works.

I swapped the passenger hub with the drivers side to see if it transfers sides. I took it on the freeway and so far so good. Hopefully it is OK. Does anyone know if they sell the rubber o ring/seal for the warn hubs?

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

So I took the passenger side hub off and I think the seal is not very good, there was dirt and some moisture in there. I cleaned the hub the best I could and put some grease in there. I took apart the other side and it looked fine, but I cleaned and put some grease in there as well. The passenger side hub doesn't engage as well as the drivers side but it works.

I swapped the passenger hub with the drivers side to see if it transfers sides. I took it on the freeway and so far so good. Hopefully it is OK. Does anyone know if they sell the rubber o ring/seal for the warn hubs?

Just the lock out hub, or did you take off the big nuts and brake caliper, and check the bearings ???

[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Just the lock out hub, or did you take off the big nuts and brake caliper, and check the bearings ???

Just took the lock hub out. Also while I was in there, I turned the axle shaft by hand and it sounded like it was grinding and was kinda difficult to turn. Which leads me to believe the spindle bearing is no good like mentioned before. I am going to order these bearings and replace.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

Just took the lock hub out. Also while I was in there, I turned the axle shaft by hand and it sounded like it was grinding and was kinda difficult to turn. Which leads me to believe the spindle bearing is no good like mentioned before. I am going to order these bearings and replace.

Axle shaft is turning the differential so it's not going to turn real easy.

But it's a good idea to refresh all the bearings on both sides. These old trucks need a little love every few decades

[Matt Man]

I hope this fixes the problem, I need to use the truck to pull a trailer to help me move in 2 months...

[MountainGoat1966]

If you need the spindle bearings in a hurry, NAPA normally stocks them.
Part number BK1
About 30 bucks per side.
Comes with new seals, too.

[Matt Man]

Originally Posted by MountainGoat1966

If you need the spindle bearings in a hurry, NAPA normally stocks them.
Part number BK1
About 30 bucks per side.
Comes with new seals, too.

I ordered ones from TIMKEN from summit, should be here Monday. I checked out oreillys (don't have a NAPA near me) and all they carried was the junk champion made in china bearings, no thanks.

[barry1982]

I have had an 82' 4 x 4 for over 20 years. You really need to keep an eye on those front wheel bearings. Especially if you do any off-roading. Seems a wheel bearing always lets you down at the worst possible time/place. When you are putting it back together, watch out for a flat washer that has a little "pin" on it. If I recall, it fits into a small hole in the inner nut.