Kmoran81

Hey all. Got a question about my F150 this time. I dont belong to any forums for them so ill give this a shot...

2002 F150 Regular Cab FX4 Off Road 69k miles

On the passenger side of the rear end right behind the hub that the wheel studs are connected to It is leaking gear oil very badly. Also the axle has about a 1/16" play in it (in and out) It just started making a loud howling sound at acceleration and while turning. What is the problem here? Can I just replace that seal or is it a pinion issue?

red95gtconvert

It sounds like the axle bearing and seal are shot.

Kmoran81

yea but would this cause the axle to be loose like that?

briansgonnawin

Your going to have to replace the Seal and Bearing im sure. The bearing does support the end of the axle but it shouldnt cause an in and out movement, it should be side to side or up and down. Edit: if the bearing was broke

The only reason it would go in and out would be that your rear brakes piston is not compressing as your pads wear so there can be some movement with the wheel on.

And if youve already removed the rotor and everything and it really is only moveing 1/16 its normal.
It was probably howling because your rearend is low on oil because your bearings/gears are not getting enough lubrication. You should check/replace other bearings since you have driven around with low oil.

uedlose

a small amount of in and out play is normal. Ford must be having a problem with the rear seals leaking in that body truck I have seen a pile of them leaking and going bad. But if yours is howling did you run it low on fluid due to the seal leaking? if not then maybe that wheel bearing is gone bad also. But it could have some thing gone on inside also hard to tell some times on the computer.But if you ran it lowyou better take a look at every thing in there.

davnsam6

I'd replace the outer axle bearing,not with an OE bearing but with a bearing saver or axle saver and use a senthetic gear oil. Dave