A few explorer problems help please?

[Machinegunrat]

Greetings all thanks for looking. I own a 98 explorer 4.0 sohc has about 198 thousand on it I got a few problems I can't figure out so ill list them.

1. I have a Metalic rattle comming from the front end behind the passenger side tire I noticed that it is loudest when the engine is warm the engine performance isn't affected and it has been steadily getting worse for the past 2 years I replaced the idler pulley my mechanic thinks it is the tensioner pully but I'm not sure.

2. My throttle cable is stretched and gonna be expensive to fix. Is there a way to adjust it?

3. It is eating front drivers side brake pads and I have to replace them every 6 months.

Any ideas are welcome. Thank you.

 

[koda2000]

q1 - probably a loose exhaust heat shield
q2 - ?
q3 - you need to replace your brake caliper (i'd do both)

 

[XLT99]

For question 1, i agree with Koda. Probably just a loose heat shield
For question 2 search throttle cable mod. Guys will take out slack with a well placed zip tie or two on the top end of the gas pedal
For question 3, check the condition of your ball joonts and hub bearing assemblies. I crashed my X and bent the control arms, with the messed up suspension geometry it would wear ball joints and bearings prematurely, and once those got all worn out it would start eatin brake pads like it was its job

 

[Stig]

Zip ties work great for your #2... youtube has a video on it.

 

[Machinegunrat]

Thanks for the responses I will look into those ideas about the brakes though upper and lower ball joints have been replaced within the last 3 years and I replaced the brake caliber this summer still have the same problem

 

[alohamonte]

#1 take the belt off and run the engine for a minute and see if the rattling disappears to isolate if the problem is pully related
#2 throttle cable mod. takes 5 mins and costs 10 cents. did it myself works great
#3 i'd bring it to a brake shop make sure rotor isnt warped and you're using the correct pad

 

[koda2000]

re brake problem: another possibility (though rare) is that you have a bad rubber flex line on that side. i've see flex lines get an internal tear that ends up acting like a valve which keeps pressure in the caliper even when you take your foot off the pedal. it might be best to take it to a professional if you're not comfortable changing the flex line.

 

[Turdle]

Passenger side rattle could also be the starter gear not fully retracting.

 

[Machinegunrat]

Kota great idea about the break line I have been researching that on the net but no one has mentioned it you know how it is they just regurgitate what someone else says lol

Ill check the other ideas I'm not to sure about the zip tie throttle cable lol might just be worth the 200 it will cost to have it fixed.

Also who's idea was it to make a plastic thermostat housing? And make it where you have to take the air intake off to change it? Lol

 

[koda2000]

hmmm, a 10 cent zip tie or spend $200... which one makes more sense?