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Dakota Front End Squealing

turbine68rt

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Wasn't able to find much searching around so I thought maybe someone here may be able to help. 04 Dakota SLT 4.7 4wd. Recently getting a loud, steady high pitched squeal from what sounds like the front. Starts doing it after driving a few miles and from that point on. Mainly on flat roads while driving either slow or highway speed, and totally stops when applying brakes. The sound resembles the squeal of the wear tab against the rotor. Current set of pads had plenty of meat remaining. Tried a new set, same exact symptom. The only other thing that was changed recently were both hub bearings. They are not Timkens, but I only have a few hundred miles on them. I'm thinking of just putting a set of Timkens on and hope for the best unless there's something else I'm missing. Had this truck since '08 and never had this issue before. Thanks for the help.
 
Do a close inspection on the pad retainer clips that one isn't out of place a running close to the rotor. Check the dust shield behind the rotor that it's not bent and running close to the rotor. They run real close to start with. I've even had a small stone or piece of rust get stuck in a pad before that will make a squealing noise. Maybe even a piece of steel embedded in the pad from the factory.
 
Check out wheel bearings and cv axles
 
If is going away with just light brake pressure its in the brakes. Wheel bearing will growl and the noise should change when swerving side to side.
 
On my Dakota I had to change the front wheel bearings about every year and a half.
 
upload_2022-3-11_23-21-16.jpeg
Like this ?
 
Do a close inspection on the pad retainer clips that one isn't out of place a running close to the rotor. Check the dust shield behind the rotor that it's not bent and running close to the rotor. They run real close to start with. I've even had a small stone or piece of rust get stuck in a pad before that will make a squealing noise. Maybe even a piece of steel embedded in the pad from the factory.
I heard of that as well, so I put a completely different set of new pads on it and nothing changed.
 
On my Dakota I had to change the front wheel bearings about every year and a half.
I got about 160k out of the original bearings before they started growling. I couldn't complain.
 
My 00 Dakota 4.7 4x4 295k had a squeak coming from the front driveshaft. Maybe look there?
 
I got about 160k out of the original bearings before they started growling. I couldn't complain.
That’s great, miss the truck but not the expense of changing them out. I had an exhaust manifold rust away too.
 
That’s great, miss the truck but not the expense of changing them out. I had an exhaust manifold rust away too.
Must be a common thing. I bought new exhaust mans for it since hearing a slight leak on driver's bank.
 
Drive it until it does it. Get it immediately off the ground so all 4 wheels can spin. Run it and see where the noise is coming from. Cant be that hard to fix. When exactly did this noise start?????????????????
 
Must be a common thing. I bought new exhaust mans for it since hearing a slight leak on driver's bank.

It is a common problem along with other manufacturers too. 4.7 exhaust manifolds will warp then burn the gasket out from under it. The bolts can rust through and break causing the warpage or the warpage can break the bolts. I milled my warped manifolds before replacing with new bolts and gaskets figuring they might not warp much more as a new one might.
(Scotty would like this post:rolleyes:)
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Drive it until it does it. Get it immediately off the ground so all 4 wheels can spin. Run it and see where the noise is coming from. Cant be that hard to fix. When exactly did this noise start?????????????????
It's only been doing it for maybe a week. It just seemed to be getting progressively more noticeable lately. I wanted to check it out closer today but it looks like I'll be shoveling snow instead.
 
The front bearings/hubs howled like normal "bad bearing" noise on my 2000.

One side went around 120K, the other about 160K.

Since the noise stops when brakes are applied, I'd look real close in that area.
 
Quick follow-up. Found what the problem was. Turned out it was coming from the passenger rear. The caliper bracket has the stainless covers that the backing plate guides ride on. There was a bunch of rusty debris that got between the cover and the bracket, distorting the cover and hindering the ability for the backing plate to slide freely, causing the inner pad to wear unevenly. Outer pad was almost like new. Removed all debris, straightened out the cover, replaced pads and works like it should again. Thanks for all the help and advice.
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glad you found it

thanks for the follow up too :thumbsup:

often these types of threads, get forgotten or unresolved
 
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