When you think you have the world figured out

I took those front hubs apart on that 85 Ford F250 4x4 last week to check the bearings. Had to take the calipers off to get it apart. They have what looks like a real small I-beam with a little leaf spring that drives in a slot to hold them on. When I took the right side off,that little spring was missing and when I put it together something just didn't seem quite right either.

Fast forward to yesterday. The neighbor and I loaded up a steer and went to the slaughter house. There was a clatter in the front of that truck that sounded like the whole front end was coming out of it. He said it sounded like a hub wasn't unlocked all the way and there must be a U joint going out. By the time we got home,it sounded a lot better. So I loaded up some cull cows this morning and went to the sale barn. Same gawdawful noise.

I got home,crawled underneath,turned the driveshaft and the axles turned OK,hubs were unlocked,U joints looked good,but I could see daylight where that little I-beam piece was supposed to be. The caliper was rattling around on the rotor,hitting the inside of the wheel,banging up against the top of the mount,you name it.

So I figure it's gonna be Ford only for sure. Didn't even go to the auto parts store a mile away.Went to the Ford dealer 12 miles away. They tell me it's obsolete and NLA from Ford. Came home and went to the auto parts store,yep,they've got them in the warehouse,be here in the morning.

Just when you think you know what will be dealer only.

Thanks for letting us know what the noise was I've been wondering what you would find.

Yepp,that little piece is critical. I like your description of it. My 76 F-150 has a small bolt that the head fits over the "little I beam" just in case it ever worked loose. Don't guess they had much problem with that, 'cause they dropped it on later models. They won't stand driving in and out many times before they come apart and need to be replaced.

Those are in the brake
Hardware kits that you can get at the auto parts place. (But you figured that out).

While I never do, the maintenance manuals say that you should replace those little "leaf springs" every time you take it apart.

I had an 86 that I couldn't get the calipers to quit rattling on, even with new pins. I ended up welding up the groove on the yoke to take up some space. Not one of Fords best ideas

I got those put in today. Took it up a rough gravel road. Quiet as a mouse.

If you do a lot of backing up, as in plowing snow, those springs get flattened pretty quickly. I had to replace the ones on my old truck several times.
I cut a small piece of fairly firm rubber out of an old weather strip or something and used gasket adhesive to glue it to the bottom of the spring to give it a little extra support.. That seemed to keep them from getting beat down quite as rapidly.

Myron