2005 Explorer-Vibration and Noise from Front Wheel

[reagansmash]

I've been having trouble figuring out what the source of this terrible wheel noise is. The best way I can describe the sound/feel is that it is pretty much as if you were driving over rumble strips on the highway. It increases with vehicle speed. You can hear it when the car is moving straight. Noise increases when turning right, and practically disappears when you turn left. It has been like this for a few months, but it has recently gotten louder. The sound is so deafening on the highway that you can't even hear the person next to you. I'm almost positive it is from the front driver's side tire because you can feel it more when you are sitting there. I've replaced the wheel hub, tires, brake pads, and gotten an alignment and the issue persists. Suggestions?

 

[reagansmash]

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be causing this?

 

[matt0248]

You have a bad front wheel bearing. Most likely the left front. I had one going out on mine and a replaced both. Turns out that both were bad when you tried to spin them by hand when they were removed from the truck.

 

[reagansmash]

I already replaced the driver's side wheel hub/bearing. It felt/sounded fine when I spun it in my hand, but I replaced it anyway since I had already gotten the part. Nothing changed. I didn't change the passenger's side because I am 99.99% positive it is coming from the driver's side.

 

[matt0248]

Change the other side. I would have sworn on a stack of bibles that mine was coming from a certain side. But it was the opposite side that was the worst one. Just sayin'.

 

[jrford]

Change the other side. I would have sworn on a stack of bibles that mine was coming from a certain side. But it was the opposite side that was the worst one. Just sayin'.

i agree.. . .it might still be the other side. a trick to see if its it, is after driving hit the back side of the bearing with a squirt of water, does the water hiss off/boil off? One or both?

I would expect that there should be some temp differences between a good one/bad one. . . .its a long shot but worth a try. Other than than that CV joints?

 

[gfestian]

Can anyone offer any insight. I have the identical issue. Rubber is a week old, all around. Wheel driver's side wheel bearing was 6 mos old, now its a week old. Upper and lower ball joints and tie rod end are 6 mos old AND I replaced the CV axle. And its not the passenger wheel bearing. The U joints are tight.

I've done about all I can think of. Any ideas?

 

[det107]

My 2wd Ranger was making a whromp sound at 40 mph on driver's side. I checked the wheel & it was loose, so naturally I replaced the rotor, inner & outer bearings and installed a ABS ring. It was cured ! But an old timer told me to do the same on passenger side. I take everything off & I see the inner bearing cup/race shoulder collapsed ! Again, I repeated the same repair job. Make sure good grease & reputable bearings is used-

 

[gfestian]

It was the other side on my 2002 Explorer... Lesson learned.