Excessive road noise

[acres90]

I have an 07 Eddie Bauer edition with 4.0 and 130k. Seems when getting up to highway speeds there's excess road noise coming from the front end. Has anyone else had this issue? I noticed it first, now the wife is freaking out. Thanks.

 

[Explorer_PL]

There may be dozens of issues up there. What kind of noise, humming, grinding, thumping, knocking, .....
Sway bar links tend to break, hub bearings go bad, front differential u joints can go bad, half shafts, front differential bearings,.....

 

[acres90]

kind of a loud humming noise that gradually gets louder

 

[Explorer_PL]

Most common are wheel bearings. Does it change depending the way you turn ? Let's say, taking a left turn and getting louder would indicate right hub needing replacement. The fronts usually are just noisy, the rears get loose and the wheels wobble, lift the car and see if you have any play.

 

[acres90]

I jacked up both sides (steer), left has no play...right has about 1/4 inch if not less.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Can you wiggle holding it 9 - 3 ocklock, or 6-12 ?

9-3 may be a ball joint as well, if 6-12 then the hub is shot.

There should be no play whatsoever save for steering movement.

 

[ronwc]

Most likely front wheel bearings, very common issue but easy and fairly inexpensive to replace. The other thing could simply be the tires, I usually rotate mine front to rear every other oil change.

 

[acres90]

I've found the hub assembly at autozone for $205.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Don't
Get Motorcraft HUB67 from Amazon. Less money and made to last.
I used an aftermarket hub from ebay once, it failed within few days.