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Diagnosing rear growling noise

joachimf

Well-Known Member
Joined
February 23, 2006
Messages
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City, State
Cologne, Germany
Year, Model & Trim Level
'07 Eddie Bauer 4x4
Happy Halloween!

Because I do have some days vacation coming I like to get rid of the growling sound coming from the rear of our 2002 Explorer (V6, M/T 5-Spd, 2WD). The noise depends on vehicle speed only, no difference with load or w/o. Starts at 25mph, loudest at 55mph.

I do know there are two possible issues that may cause the growl: rear wheel bearings or differential bearings.

But I am not sure which bearings do cause the growling noise.

To rule out the tires I have changed front left to rear right and front right with rear left. No change to the growling noise.

Have changed rear axle fluid to a thicker viscosity (SAE 90 GL-5). No difference.

Let my wife drive the car while I was on the back seat. If I sit left I hear it coming from the left. If I sit right I think it is coming from the right. If I sit in the middle I hear it from behind me.

What can I do to find out whether it's time to change the wheel bearings or overhaul the differential?

Like to hear your thoughts/ideas. Thank you!
 



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for a nominal fee, I went to a shop (not the dealership) have them lift my truck and one technician started the car while the other checks any differences in the sound of each wheel while it's running. They let me hear what a bad hub/bearing sounds.


I'm just not comfortable doing it myself on 4 jackstands since my truck is AWD.




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You can use a floor jack to lift each rear wheel off the ground, one at a time. With the wheel off the ground, grab the tire and check for any play in the bearing. No play usually means the bearing is sound.

I talked with a ring and pinion specialist, he said that if the ring and pinion were not installed propperly it can cause the bearings to go out and make a growling noise.

My first explorer went over 160,000 miles and never had a sound out of the rearend. My current explorer sounds like it has a lion under the back seat with only 100k miles. Apparently, sometimes you get lucky with a factory rearend build, and sometimes you don't.

Anyways, the cheapest place I have found to have mine done reliably is $1350. Just be sure to get someone who actually knows every procedure for putting these rearends together, as one false move means your rearend will be loud again.

Hope this helps.
 






The noise depends on vehicle speed only, no difference with load or w/o. Starts at 25mph, loudest at 55mph.

This would lead me to think wheel bearing. The common rear end problem is loader with a load and almost can not be heard with no load.
 






This would lead me to think wheel bearing. The common rear end problem is loader with a load and almost can not be heard with no load.

This actually describes my rearend growl to a T, however my wheel bearings are good, leaving only the diff to blame.

Does the growl go away before you stop completely? Because mine sounds like a C-130 after I get up to about 50mph, but does not stop growling again till I stop completely.
 






Dear @all,

just an update:

If you listen from the backseat the growl starts with moving the vehicle. At low speeds, say 10 mph you only can hear it when you are on the back seat.

Tried some Autobahn on and off ramps and found out when I turn to the left the noise becomes less prominent. On turns to the right it becomes louder.

???
 






Dear @all,

just an update:

If you listen from the backseat the growl starts with moving the vehicle. At low speeds, say 10 mph you only can hear it when you are on the back seat.

Tried some Autobahn on and off ramps and found out when I turn to the left the noise becomes less prominent. On turns to the right it becomes louder.

???

It's your left rear wheel bearing. Turning left takes the load off the left side and turning right loads the left side. You may as well do both though as they both go out at about the same time.
Speaking from experience, buy quality bearings, (Timken). I used cheap $40 the first time and they lasted less than a year.
 






It's your left rear wheel bearing. Turning left takes the load off the left side and turning right loads the left side. You may as well do both though as they both go out at about the same time.
Speaking from experience, buy quality bearings, (Timken). I used cheap $40 the first time and they lasted less than a year.

The "wiggle" test on the back wheels of 4X4 explorers is not foolproof. If the toe link is out, yet the bearings are good, the wheel will wobble around. When my rear bearings went out on both sides, neither wheel had any play. Took it to a shop and he did the "swerve" test that loads bearings on each side of the car. Since both were bad, both continued to make noise. Eventually, he pulled them and tried to spin both by hand and neither would budge. It's not that easy determining whether the bearings are bad or not. If they are bad, get the Timkens.

Some people say to put the car in N and chock the front wheels. Lift the rear and spin the rears by hand. If you hear or feel grinding, they are bad. I did not try that, seems a bit risky.
 






Dear @all,

replaced left rear wheel bearing over the weekend. Btw, original bearing was 'Made in Canada', not a KOYO/Japan unit.

Replaced the bearing with an 'Atlas Edge' bearing. Installation was four hours of work.

Test drove the car yesterday morning and it is quiet again. Thanks for your help!
 






I'm having the exact same issue. Right turn makes it louder, left turn makes it a little quieter. Don't have the time to Do it myself so off to the garage tonight.
 






Dear @all,

replaced left rear wheel bearing over the weekend. Btw, original bearing was 'Made in Canada', not a KOYO/Japan unit.

Replaced the bearing with an 'Atlas Edge' bearing. Installation was four hours of work.

Test drove the car yesterday morning and it is quiet again. Thanks for your help!

Going to revive a dead thread here:

joachimf,

Dont know if you are still in Germany, but my EX is doing the same exact thing. My mom had a friend who's a mechanic replace the rear back in 2010 when she was driving it as a daily driver and apperently he used cheapos. Driving on the autobahn here practicully killed them too hitting 90+ speeds everyday. Just ordered 2 x TIMKEN rear bearings and going to attack the rear when they come in at the local auto hobby shop. Good thing I went with TIMKEN when I did the front.
 






@Dwelves02XLT,

saw your reply. Well, yes I am still in Germany.

The ‘Atlas Edge’ bearing is still in the ’02 and it is still quite, have clocked some 5kmls on the truck after bearing change.

So I do not consider the ‘Atlas Edge’ bearing a cheap one.

Because we do run two Explorers with IRS in the family (’07 EB, ’02 XLS) I will order a pair of Timken bearings from RockAuto coming week. I like to stock some spares that will be eaten up with time anyway.

Thanks for your help.
 






Did you just change out the bearings, or the entire hub assembly?
 






@magsnwill,

had bought a complete kit with hub & bearing. Because the old hub came out easily w/o damage I reused it and kept the new hub for repair events to come.
 






The hub is the easiest unless sweet baby Jesus smiles at you and yours comes out. Having had a 4 fan trash can (from both front and 1rear+ bent short shaft) I feel the pain
 






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