imp
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- November 12, 2009
- Messages
- 4,798
- Reaction score
- 779
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 59 Ranchero F250 D'Line
Last few years, my hearing has deteriorated, but I still perceive new noises which arise, just not as well...
On our way to Arizona from Missouri, last November, I detected what I then thought was gear hum, not bad, but hearable with windows closed, and it came and went, as gear noise sometimes does.
Now back in MO, about 4,000 miles later, the noise is constant, louder, still not bad enough to be precurser of disaster! My wife's much better hearing placed it in the rear, as I did also, but not dead certain. My reasoning was, pinion bearing noise would surely not continue this long without ensuing failure; pinion bearings are extremely high-stressed, make 4 times as many revolutions as wheel bearings......so, I bought rear wheel bearings from NAPA- shock of the day! $ 174 list EACH, $ 92 my cost! Then, I found a listing on E-bay, BOTH bearings AND BOTH brand-new hubs, complete with wheel-studs, $ 51.50! Ordered, received, looked over, very quality-looking workmanship, studs actually feel quite hard to the "file" test, not soft. Bearings look identical in every way to NAPA's. 'Course, the stuff's made in China. But how do I know that SKF, ***, etc. aren't also, nowadays?
Today, placed jack stands directly under all 4 lower shock supports, removed all 4 wheels, drew up 2 lug nuts each corner to clamp rotors against hubs, had wife run her up to 40 or so, listened closely all 4 corners, "stethoscoped" using long screwdriver, including rear pinion area of differential, but by then was pretty certain: Left rear wheel bearing, noisy even with weight of vehicle removed. I could feel the bearing vibration by placing my fingers atop the upper control arm; other side no such feeling. Front wheel hubs both quiet.
Small problem: for whatever reason, both rear axles spun at about the same speed, but front, one spun considerably faster than the other. I did all this "running", BTW, in "4X4 HIGH" (not AWD). She announced "2 icons lit up!" The wrench, and "ABS". Not to worry, PCM thought something was drastically awry! Put the wheels back on, took her for a spin, wrench went away immediately upon engine starting, "ABS" indicator took a few hundred feet of travel, and went out.
My work is now cut out for me.......imp
On our way to Arizona from Missouri, last November, I detected what I then thought was gear hum, not bad, but hearable with windows closed, and it came and went, as gear noise sometimes does.
Now back in MO, about 4,000 miles later, the noise is constant, louder, still not bad enough to be precurser of disaster! My wife's much better hearing placed it in the rear, as I did also, but not dead certain. My reasoning was, pinion bearing noise would surely not continue this long without ensuing failure; pinion bearings are extremely high-stressed, make 4 times as many revolutions as wheel bearings......so, I bought rear wheel bearings from NAPA- shock of the day! $ 174 list EACH, $ 92 my cost! Then, I found a listing on E-bay, BOTH bearings AND BOTH brand-new hubs, complete with wheel-studs, $ 51.50! Ordered, received, looked over, very quality-looking workmanship, studs actually feel quite hard to the "file" test, not soft. Bearings look identical in every way to NAPA's. 'Course, the stuff's made in China. But how do I know that SKF, ***, etc. aren't also, nowadays?
Today, placed jack stands directly under all 4 lower shock supports, removed all 4 wheels, drew up 2 lug nuts each corner to clamp rotors against hubs, had wife run her up to 40 or so, listened closely all 4 corners, "stethoscoped" using long screwdriver, including rear pinion area of differential, but by then was pretty certain: Left rear wheel bearing, noisy even with weight of vehicle removed. I could feel the bearing vibration by placing my fingers atop the upper control arm; other side no such feeling. Front wheel hubs both quiet.
Small problem: for whatever reason, both rear axles spun at about the same speed, but front, one spun considerably faster than the other. I did all this "running", BTW, in "4X4 HIGH" (not AWD). She announced "2 icons lit up!" The wrench, and "ABS". Not to worry, PCM thought something was drastically awry! Put the wheels back on, took her for a spin, wrench went away immediately upon engine starting, "ABS" indicator took a few hundred feet of travel, and went out.
My work is now cut out for me.......imp
