Before I spend $165 at AutoZone on a new hub...

[89roadster]

Does this sound like the front passenger-side hub has gone bad?

Problem:
Noise coming from right front wheel area. Not coming from tire (rotated tires and noise stayed at right front).

Not a clicking noise, but it SOUNDS LIKE the transmission isn't shifting (transmission is working fine) - it gets louder with speed. You can't notice it until about 30 mph.

When the truck is level, the noise is there and strong, when the truck is turning left (weight of truck on right wheels) the noise remains strong, but when turning right (weight of truck on left wheels) the noise disappears as more weight is shifted.

Putting the front end up on jacks allowed me to spin the tires and there wasn't any noise coming from the brakes, CV joints, etc... and the shocks are less than 2 years old.

Oh yeah, and to add insult to injury, a wheel stud popped off when I was taking one of the wheels off

Thanks in advance!

 

[jimbo74]

wheel bearing


and you have auto hubs... for not much more than that 1 hub, you can convert it to reliable manuals and not deal with the crap autohubs

 

[rblais]

I replaced the hub and bearing assembly a while back on my 2000 AWD Mounty.There was a rubbing/groaning noise coming from the front right that led me to take the wheel off in search of the source of the sound. After poking around a while I realized I could move the hub side to side with my hand. It didn't make any noise and I didn't feel any resistance to turning the hub (other then the normal drive train drag) but it could be moved radially about 1/8". Replaced them and alls well. See if you have any radial movement from side to side (not in-out). There shouldn't be any movement. If there is then it's a sure sign the hub-bearings are worn. Good luck.

 

[IZwack]

well hello fellow marylander

when wheel bearings go bleh.. it sounds like a cell phone vibrating on a glass table but feels like something large is going to come through ur floor.

and you have auto hubs... for not much more than that 1 hub, you can convert it to reliable manuals and not deal with the crap autohubs

i was under the impression that the 2nd gens had no ability to "slip" at the hubs.. the CV is splined directly to the metal that the wheels are bolted to.. hence there is no way a wheel can "slip" (at the hub) because they are always physically "locked"..

 

[jobunn]

When I though my hub went bad (it was making a steady "whirring" or "whistling" noise only above 10 or so miles an hour) I just replaced the dust seal and smeared synthetic grease around the hub instead of replacing it. Works fine now and that was 3 years ago. And I am not aware of any manual hub conversions for the 95 and up explorers.

 

[89roadster]

well hello fellow marylander

when wheel bearings go bleh.. it sounds like a cell phone vibrating on a glass table but feels like something large is going to come through ur floor.

Hello fellow MDer - you're description fits very well.

Thank you all - sure sounds like this is my problem. I guess I should stop driving it until I can afford the replacement part

I will certainly try JOBUNNs suggestion first though!

 

[IZwack]

note that sometimes, there might not be any play in the wheel at all.. when i dipped my front wheels in deep water, the water evacuated the grease/lubricant from the wheel bearings, 3 days later (it sat 2 days w/o being driven), the noise was there and it was time for a new hub/bearing assembly.. i checked for wheel play and there wasnt really any. however, this rust colored sludge was bleeding out of the wheel bearing assembly.

 

[n3m3s1s]

hey jim, im really interested in this 'manual hub swap' you described...

 

[Hartman]

hey jim, im really interested in this 'manual hub swap' you described...

Jim failed to recognize that this is a 2nd gen forum.

 

[n3m3s1s]

you mean...he's wrong?

you gotta be kidding me...

 

[IZwack]

thats what i was trying to say.. there hubs are "locked" cauz they are splined directly to the CV

 

[n3m3s1s]

so what do the 'auto-hubs' actually do then?