Growling from front end 99 Eddie Bauer with auto 4x4

[DoubleXploder]

I have a 99 EB Explorer with a growling noise coming from the front end, I took the pass tire off to check the wheel bearing and the wheel bearing seems to be fine didn't have any wiggle when I jacked it up, from the posts I've seen possibly related to the cv, or transfer case.
The best way I can explain the growling noise is I had an exhaust leak recently fixed, and it sounds similar to a bad exhaust leak, or mud tires on the highway, the noise goes away when on the highway and the road curves left, doesn't change noise turning right down the highway. I want to get some ideas of what I'm looking at before throwing money at stuff and it doesn't fix the problem.

 

[J_C]

Welcome to the forum!

Inspect the CV boots. If they aren't leaking, I'd suspect CVs less and proceed to check/change the transfer case fluid if hasn't been done recently and look at the fluid to see if it's mud or has metal flecks in it.

 

[C420sailor]

How many miles on the bearings? Sound disappearing/getting worse in a high speed curve or lane change is indicative of bearings

Also, how many miles are on the tires? When were they last rotated and balanced?

I’ve been sure I had a bad bearing or CV axle, only to rotate the tires and have the noise move

 

[DoubleXploder]

Welcome to the forum!

Inspect the CV boots. If they aren't leaking, I'd suspect CVs less and proceed to check/change the transfer case fluid if hasn't been done recently and look at the fluid to see if it's mud or has metal flecks in it.

I will definitely check that out, when I had it jacked up I did notice some fluid on the bottom front of the transfer case.

 

[410Fortune]

Tale tale sign of a bad unit bearing is the growling changes when you add a side load, ie going straight then a sudden left, back to straigh, sudden right.
The factory wheel bearings last about 150-200k miles.
Use quality parts to replace them or you will be doing it again soon

It is hard to detect looseness in the bearing

If you suspect front d shaft or r case simply remove front d shaft and go for a test drive

Cv axles typically click when making tight turns

Growling noise is usually wheel bearings