Constant Thumping no Change with Speed

[joker1457]

:thumbdwn:Search didnt quite match the issue so here we go.

98 Explorer EB 4.0 SOHC
4inch Super Lift
31/10.50/r15 Tires

Ok the search has come up with a few options of what this could be, but im not agreeing because it doesnt match the symptoms of whats happening.

So two weeks ago go out for some local wheelin here in Colorado, as luck would have it I tore apart my Front Drive Shaft. I drove the vehicle around up tell yesterday without the driveshaft in. Starting two weeks ago the front drivers side of the vehicle has been making a constant THUMP THUMP THUMP while driving at any speed. That being said there are no SWAY BARS on the front or back of vehicle...so thats rulled out. The rear driveshaft u-joint are solid so thats ruled out. Keep in mind this is happening with the front driveshaft in and out. Caliper bolts to my knowledge are tight, I do have a warped roter cant imagine that would cause the issue can it? Drivabilty of the vehicle seems fine......Im completly stumpped on this. Can the spyder gears be toast am I looking a cv joint, a hub assembly, front carrier (fluid was changed a month or two ago). Out of round tire, ball

This has me completely baffled, and I know their are many people on here with much more knowledge then I have on these vehicles, so any thoughts or advice is better then where im at now with it.

Thanks

 

[Turdle]

Boy, for this one I think you'll just have to start tearing it down til you find it. It could be any one of the things you mentioned.

Now as unsafe as this may sound, if there was a way to get it on a lift, or even 4 jackstands so you could get the tires rolling and watch the components---sort of like driving it in the air-

Definitely have a friend in the truck so he can stomp on the brakes in case it falls off the stands.

Edit
does using 4wd or stepping on the brakes change the noise?

 

[joker1457]

Edit
does using 4wd or stepping on the brakes change the noise?[/QUOTE]

The only thing that seems to change it (sorry forgot to mention) is at a constant turn to the right at cruising speed, once its straight again the sound comes back.

 

[joker1457]

So noticed something new today?????????? When driving and hitting high and lows on the road if the drivers side suspension is relieved of pressure the sound goes completly away. Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

i just had this problem, and hopefully its the same as yours. mine had more of a "wobble" sound. if you turned a certain direction it would go away. thinking it was the hub, i replaced that. it helped somewhat, but the sound was still there (and driving me nuts). i have both drivers and passengers axles sitting for spares and was going to replace them. but for poops and giggles i took the front tire off, and put it on the back and vise versa. after that, it was quite and smooth! try swapping your tires around. hey, its free and only takes 10 mins, so what would you have to loose.

 

[explorerguy89]

i say drivers side cv is prolley bad take it off and move its around or just lift that tire and spin it freely see if the cv moves in a way it shouldnt

 

[joker1457]

Ok rotated tires, new pads, new rotors, and one new CV, checked hubs and ball joints everythings seems tight and working properly:biggthump, so thinking im good to go I drive it to work somehow I still have my Thump Thump Thump sound..............pull into a park-n-ride this morning get about ten feet into the parking lot, and bam, The front end sounds like grinding teeth (metal teeth), So luckily there's a shop right by the Park-n-ride the guy inside goes straight to telling me it's my T-case:thumbdwn: I dont agree, Im fairly confident its the front carrier...... Ill let everone know what I found out I guess. Whats everyones opinion on the T-case being the culprit?

 

[joker1457]

OK well still have my thumping, yesterdays issue hub assembly...........again, now Im back to square one.

 

[Turdle]

OK,
turning to the right quiets the thump--
If you have eliminated the cv axle-it could be a problem in the front diff.

 

[joker1457]

The rate things are going I may have to change this thread to my SAS registry , this constant issue with the front end Im sure is due to the Superlift and extream angles, on that note the car is going to stay in town while I go water skiing , I think maybe Friday I'm going to pull the front diff cover and see if there's anything I can see without getting to deep into it.

 

[joker1457]

Ok put her rear in the air last night to check the rear driveshaft theres no play in the u-joint but a little up and down play in the slip yoke on the drive shaft itself...... is this normal.

Upon this discovery I also seem to have play in both back tires its not a large amount maybe 1/4 inch in and out play on both rear tires...is this normal?

 

[joker1457]

Well ive officially decided my car hates me, or just hates that I ride her hard :shifty_ey. This has turned out to be another Hub bearing, I replaced the right side, both brakes and rotors, drivers cv and still had the noise. Keep in mind I took the drivers side hub bearing off to do the cv. The drivers side hub bearing turned out to be the issue the whole time.......I feel like such a Jacka$$, sorry for wasting everyones time.

But who knows maybe this will help others in the future.

Now that this is said and done, and Im officially fed up with the front of my Ex and its tiny little Dana 35, I will be gathering parts for an SAS build and tackle this gremlin once and for all!!