Hello, I drive around 300 miles round trip daily for work. Sometimes I drive up and stay in a hotel and just drive around the construction site all day. Anyways last night as I was leaving I heard a loud POP, my abs light came on I lost brakes almost completely. Luckily I was able to pull off and the left front tire is like this / I have had a grinding popping noise for a month that I thought was the front cv type driveshaft. Since it seemed to have some play in it. I didn't put much more thought in it since I only drive in 2wd. So looking behind the tire thats like this / I can see and area right behind the tire/brake assembly that is seperated/ground up and the abs wire is hanging. Looking at advance auto parts its seems like a cv axle assembly is what I need? Any ideas would be great I can try and get a picture a little later on. Is this a job I can do in a hotel parking lot? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Mike

 

A picture is worth 1000 words. Can you take a picture? It almost sounds like possibly the wheel bearing had gone bad and since you didn't get it replaced in time, finally fractured and separated. Either that or a ball joint let go.

 

Its back at the hotel, luckily I made it there. Realizing when I pulled into parking spot I should not have even driven that 3 miles. Smoke was pouring out by time I got there. I will run back there and try to get best picture I can with my phone. Someone said I just need a wheel bearing, but this looks like something that shouldnt have seperated. Directly behind brakes. Like you said a picture and you guys more familiar with the trucks will probably easily pinpoint what I need.
Thanks
Mike

 

If the bearing separated and you drove it for a while, you may need a new CV shaft, caliper, brake flex line, wheel speed sensor, rotor, hub/bearing assembly, brake shield, and possibly a new steering knuckle.

Here's the break down of the '97 4wd front axle courtesy of CompNine.com: CLICK HERE

 

Wow great break down, thank you. I believe part 28 the hub kit with sensors etc. is what actually broke. Because ABS light came on and lost brakes, I can see abs wire dangling. If that part broke, I may have to replace most of what is in diagram? At that point It may not make financial sense to fix Pics to come.
Thanks
Mike

 

There is a lot of stuff in that diagram that you would not have to replace.

If it were me, I would go to a junkyard and find another setup like yours and get the whole thing, maybe swapping out a new caliper & hose as well as a new wheel bearing if the yard one feels the slightest bit gritty.

 

I uploaded two photos to my photo gallery on here. Im not sure how to link them. But I think it shows pretty decent where its broke. BTW there aren't any junkyards near my home anymore. Not sure about around here where Im working.
Thanks
Mike

 

I can't really tell from that angle. But from what you have described, it sounds like my original wheel bearing/hub assembly theory fits. The next step is to get it torn down and see what's broken/damaged.

 

Right where the rubber boot goes into the back of the brakes or hub or whatever is where its broke. Im really at a loss at what to do since its sitting in a hotel parking lot right now with minimal tools etc. available to me.
-Mike

 

If you can't work on it where you are, I would get it towed.