95 - Front End Noise

[SRW]

I have a stock 95 explorer - ~195,000km, took it off roading a couple of weeks ago where we went through some really deep water (certainly higher than the wheel bearing level). I was in low/4x4. Since then there is a rumble from the front end like I have offroad tires. It's really noticeable at around town speeds and less at highway speeds. Am I due for wheel bearings/hubs?
Thanks

 

[manaen]

could be worse than that you could have flooded the front axle with water which is currently chewing up your front gears, or it could be a CV joint that got packed with mud. Have you been under the truck to check it out?

 

[SRW]

I had a quick look and all the boots look secure.
I'll get a chance to crawl under there tonight for a good look.

It also "clunked" when I took it out of 4-Low once we finished going through the rough stuff.

 

[lindleyt]

The clunk going into or out of 4x4 low is normal. No need to worry about that. Are the tires still rumbling. Some times I have been off road and had mud caked on the wheels. This will throw them out of balance for a short time until you reach a high enough speed to spin the mud off. Check the inside of the wheels to see if you have some left over mud stuck there. hopefully that's all it is. Good luck. Tim

 

[SRW]

It was my wheel bearing(s)
Thanks for the replies

It's starting to be an expensive explorer.

 

[lindleyt]

Word.

 

[manaen]

as soon as you take any vehicle off road you will double the maintenance costs, it's just the facts of life and not Ford specific.

 

[SRW]

as soon as you take any vehicle off road you will double the maintenance costs, it's just the facts of life and not Ford specific.

I wasn't trying to slam Fords. I've owned them for years. An Aerostar, Focus.
The Aerostar gave me years of great service.
The Focus is probably better than most Japanese imports.

 

[manaen]

I wasn't trying to slam Fords. I've owned them for years. An Aerostar, Focus.
The Aerostar gave me years of great service.
The Focus is probably better than most Japanese imports.

It's all cool, I just didn't want to let people think this is a Ford Problem.

Funny thing about the Focus is it is mostly a Mazda(Japanese) import assembled here in the states