45mph whine - woob woob woob noise

[BubbaFL]

This noise is driving me nuts.

The truck is a 98 Explorer 4-door V8 2wd, 116k on the odometer.

It makes a whining kind of "woob woob woob" noise which starts to become noticable around 40mph, and is very prominent at 45 mph.

This noise is proportional to vehicle speed, not engine RPM's. It is the same with or without the overdrive, in D, 2, or even coasting in neutral. The noise doesn't change with throttle position, and it doesn't change in turns.

It sounds like it's coming from the front end, but it is hard to tell while sitting in the vehicle.

In the last two months I've replaced all of the following:

Brake pads all the way around
Front rotors
Front wheel bearings
Lower ball joints
Outer tie rod ends
Changed transmission fluid
Changed differential fluid
Changed oil, air filter, plugs and wires
New tires

When I changed the differential fluid, I did look inside and didn't see any obvious problem with the gears - no broken teeth or major defects.

I've had two different mechanics listen to it, and they didn't have any ideas. Last week I had a front-end alignment (post ball-joint and TRE install), and that mechanic said everything in the front end was solid, and didn't have any ideas on what to replace beyond what I've already done. He also (claimed to) put the truck up on a lift, and check for rear-end noise, and didn't find anything while doing that.

I should also note that the truck's been making this noise since I bought it (>5 yrs), and that none of the recent work has done anything to change the character of the noise.

Any suggestions on what else I could check or replace?

Thanks!

 

[nolimitssjca]

What kind of tire tread pattern do you have? Could it be the tires?

 

[BubbaFL]

Don't think it is the tires

What kind of tire tread pattern do you have? Could it be the tires?

I don't think it is the tires - the noise has been consistent regardless of the type or condition of tires I've had on the truck. Mostly I've run BFG Long Trail TA's, 235/75 R15 all the way around. Right now it has two almost new Firestone Wheel Trac tires on the front (free replacements the local Firestone place gave me when I came up with two ancient Wildnerness AT's a year or two ago), and two brand new BFG's on the back.

Rotating the tires doesn't change the noise at all.

 

[Rogers-Explorer]

woob, woob, woob - good analogy

BubbaFL,

I know it's not much help, but what you describe is very similar to what my Ex has just started to do, I just never thought of the woob woob woob reference - it's seems accurate enough.

I've done many of the R&R's you have completed (minus the wheel bearings - which is what I suspected my whine was coming from). The only difference is mine is 4WD, the noise hits a peak at around 30mph, and it disappears when I turn right (I can also make it go away when I turn the radio up to about 10 ).

I did read another post, and the suggestion there was to grease the seal between the wheel bearing and the knuckle, though I'm not sure if this is the case with 2WD. The post said that it is normal for this seal to dry up somewhat (especially after going through water, etc.) and that greasing it will eliminate the noise. I haven't got around to doing this yet.

The fact that yours has made the sound for such a long time is some comfort, as I will be leaving next week for a move from Halifax to Edmonton - I haven't decided whether I will go out and buy some new wheel bearings just in case.

Hope you find a solution.

Cheers, Roger

 

[scaperrotta06]

Mine does it too and, I'm also 2wd v8. I've changed my lower ball joints. I got alot to do on the front end. How hard was the bearings on a 2wd?

 

[BubbaFL]

bearings

Mine does it too and, I'm also 2wd v8. I've changed my lower ball joints. I got alot to do on the front end. How hard was the bearings on a 2wd?

I replaced the rotors at the same time I did the bearings - was a piece of cake since the bearings fit inside the rotor assembly on the 2wd, and the new rotors already had the outer bearing race pressed in - just had to pack the new bearings, drop them in along with the new inner race, then tap the oil seal into place.

I haven't tried changing the rear bearings yet - looks like the differential cover needs to come off to change them, and I've already had one gear-oil shower this summer so it will wait a while.

 

[IZwack]

Maybe your Explorer just "wuvs" you

 

[BubbaFL]

Anybody else have suggestions on what to check or replace? This noise is driving me nuts. Went on a 100-mile trip over the weekend... woob woob woob noise starting at 45 and getting louder loud up to 60, and mostly goes away over 60.

 

[Rogers-Explorer]

Bubba,

I agree, the noise is really irritating. I hope someone has some suggestions - I am leaving tomorrow for Edmonton (3000 miles), I will certainly feel your 100 mile trip pain - several times over!

Did you have a look at the seal between the knuckles and the rotors? As I mentioned before, someone suggested that this seal may be a bit dry and all you need to do is throw some high-temp grease on it.

I hope there is a solution to this, I am willing to try anything. I will be checking the forum along my journey.

Cheers, Roger

 

[Mkrucejr]

Woob Woob Woob??

Not to worry....

But if you hear...Bang, Clank, Schpech, KA-POW.....

THEN you're in trouble.

 

[xdviper]

I don't know if mine is simular but it has been doing the same thing for a while now. While keeping my feet steady on the pedal going at 30MPH. I can also hear VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM sound. If I slow down or go any faster, it will go away. Mine is coming from the rear.

 

[BubbaFL]

Woob Woob Woob??
But if you hear...Bang, Clank, Schpech, KA-POW.....

Is that the sound of the pumpkin grenading?

 

[zippee]

Why am I thinking of Larry, Curly, and Moe?

 

[matt98sport]

i have this same noise, and no garage in this town can figure it out. im almost convinced that it is my front diff, maybe i have water in it or sand. whatever it is, i feel your pain dude. it drives me freeking insane!!! its getting really bad the last few days too

i suspect nobody will have an answer to this, until our pumpkins explode

 

[TheVarmit]

Betcha a buck its the tires. After replacing/repairing everything you've done and still makes that noise it has to be one of the tires. My wife drives a Mazda Tribute and it makes that noise...we've had it checked top to bottom and all say its the sorry Continental tire(s) that came on it from the factory. We couldn't feel any shake or wobble in the front end so we had the tires rotated and still no shake or wobble but the noise is there but in a different location. It has 28 thousand miles on it so soon I'll replace all the tires.

 

[BubbaFL]

Betcha a buck its the tires.

Sorry, I think you owe me a buck

It went "woob woob woob" two months ago with four worn-out BFG's... exact same noise now with two new BFG's and two almost new Firestone Wheel Trac's.

 

[Mkrucejr]

I have a woob woon noise, but I think its the tires......the inside om my passenger tires is worn. both hubs have been replaced.

 

[p100ki]

I didn't want to start my own thread for a similar issue so i figured i'd post here also.

I have a 95 XLT 4x4 and it has a humming sound coming from somewhere at around 45mph also. Mine goes mostly away when i let off the gas though, it's really only loud when I'm on the gas. I know next to nothing about this truck because a friend owned me some money so he paid me with a an Explorer. It needed a power steering pump which i replaced for $45 and the 4wd doesn't engage which doesn't bother me right now since i have an off road Explorer.

You can drown out the humming with the radio but that's only a temporary fix, lol.

 

[RichRed98]

Just read about your "woob, woob" problem. I had it when I bought my 98 Sport 4x4 3 years ago. I think I actually described it as a "wump" sound. My fix was simply a tire rotation and later a new set of Uniroyals. Sound gone.
Good luck.

 

[p100ki]

Mine is definitely not a tire problem, i put a new set of Mickey Thompson Baja MTZs on it to test the noise. It still makes the same humming noise so i went as far as putting the wheels and tires from my daily driver Explorer on it , same noise