lmbrjack2

I have a 2000 Ford Explorer Limited with a 5.0L V8 and AWD. It has 139000 miles on it. Recently it started making a noise/vibration in what seems like the front end. It sounds very similar to the "singing" that oversized tires make when going down the road. It starts at around 10mph and at about 40mph it is almost deafening. It is a low pitched sound. Any time that I hit a bump or turn right so that the suspension on the right side of the truck is "unloaded", the sound goes away. The tires are about 3 months old. I rotated the tires just to rule out any problems with them. I have also just replaced the upper control arms, upper ball joints, lower ball joints, brakes and rotors. I also just had an alignment done. I checked all of the u-joints and they seem fine. The CV joints aren't really making any noises that I can hear. Transmission fluid and transfer case oil are full. The problem is still present when I shift into neutral. Any ideas on what this might be would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Johnny Mullet

If the noise changes sound when taking a curve, then I would suspect a wheel bearing issue.

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lmbrjack2

It not only changes sound when in a right hand curve, it completely goes away. As long as the right side of the suspension is "unloaded" there is no noise at all. As soon as you straighten the truck out the noise comes right back. I thought maybe that it might be a wheel bearing but everything feels good and tight. It looks like the wheel bearing and hub come as an assembly ($161). Do you know if I can just buy the bearing?

Johnny Mullet

You must buy the entire hub assy. The job can be done at home also if you have air tools for the axle nut. Sounds like the right bearing hub. Could need both since they usually fail within a month of each other.

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