Hey guys!

+5 degrees here in Michigan right now, and my 05 HD has developed a strange noise. 97k on the truck, currently has an 8' Western Pro Plow on it (never plowed until 2 months ago) w/ 285BFGs. (also 2 months old). I just bought the truck before Christmas, not sure what suspension parts have been replaced yet. It is nice and tight though.

Above 55mph (mostly, around 65mph) I get an occational "thump thump thump" noise.......I can feel it through the floor of the truck, can't tell which direction it is coming from, though.

The truck DOES need an intermediate steering shaft, although that noise is just starting, and is not bad yet. This noise is something completely different.............Does it in 2WD or 4WD. Does it in OD or 5th or 4th gear (not RPM-based). Going down the highway, straight, hills, or flat.........it comes and goes, and gets pretty loud from time to time. You can definitely feel it. No audible noise, though (ie, no growl or grinding).

The truck is jammed full of ice and snow underneath, though the wheels look pretty free of any ice lumps that would throw them off balance.

1) Reading on here, it sounds like I may have a bad wheel bearing assy. My buddy has an 01 HD that just developed a bad wheel bearing, and his is grinding/growling, which is what I am accustomed to hearing when they go bad. Why would they THUMP instead?

2) Does anyone make a lifetime warrantied hub assembly?

3) Is it advisable to change both of them at the same time? I plan to tow my camper about 1000 miles this summer and don't want to get stranded. Is this a sudden-onset thing, or gradual? Test it by the play in the front wheels when jacked up, right?

Thanks! Ben

If it were me, I would get that truck nice and clean underneath and then drive it around and see if you have any weird sounds, etc.. I hate troubleshooting in winter because snow and other objects can really throw you off.

Jack the truck up and check for play in the front wheel that is "thumping".

You do NOT need to replace both at the same time, and at $200 a piece I would wait for signs of replacement before I replace.

As for sudden on set, on mine they way I found out was my wheel sensor went bad and the bearing actually starting throwing chunks into the wheel sensor, took that out. I jacked it up and I had SERIOUS play.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

This weekend, I'll take the plow off, jack her up and check the front wheels. Then I'll run it through the auto-wash to clean off the undercarriage (can't do it with the plow on).

As far as sudden failure, I didn't want to get stranded 1/2 way through a camping trip, but it sounds like I will get some warning ahead of time, especially if I check the play once in awhile.

I will post my results.

Thx, Ben