Front end noise - possible wheel bearing?

[VintageRedTruck]

My 2009 Eddie Bauer Explore makes a low whining/grinding noise after I get up to about 20 mph. It sounds like it is coming from the front suspension. The noise at first reminded me of a whine a transmission might make in the early stages of failure. I have noticed if I am going straight down the road or into a right turn/curve the noise continues but if I am going into a left turn/curve the noise stops until I am going straight again. My gut tells me the issue is in the driver side wheel (maybe the bearing). Turning left in a curve shifts weight of the vehicle to the driver side front wheel and the noise stops. It is taking more of the load. Straight and right turn I get the noise. I had a similar issue a few years ago with a 2004 Limited. I changed both front wheel bearings and it did not solve the issue. I have had the Explorer for over a year and it has been doing this since I owned it. It has not got any worse and the steering feels tight and responsive. There is no vibration or any indication anything is loose. I recently drove 560 miles round trip pulling a car trailer with a vehicle loaded on the trailer. No performance issues. Any ideas?

 

[Rcflyer330]

To clarify you changed both front the bearings on the 09 and it didn't fix the issue?
how many miles since you did them approximately?

how are the tires?

 

[Bazz270]

In the end of the day,it is very easy to determine bad hub bearing.

Take the suspected side wheel off.reassemble the brake rotor and caliper ,rotate the wheel hub and listen carefully.

If any strange bearing noise detected,replace and torque to specs.
Replace fasteners or apply loctite to the olds.

 

[VintageRedTruck]

No, I did not replace the wheel bearings on the 2009. I have not done anything as of yet. Tires only have about 6,000 miles.

 

[07EddyB]

In the end of the day,it is very easy to determine bad hub bearing.

Take the suspected side wheel off.reassemble the brake rotor and caliper ,rotate the wheel hub and listen carefully.

If any strange bearing noise detected,replace and torque to specs.
Replace fasteners or apply loctite to the olds.

I think you meant disassemble there.

 

[Bazz270]

You right
Of coarse, i mean to take it off the car otherwise the brake pads and the rotor will make the noise.

If you do have that noise dont go any further.stop and fix the issue as soon as possible.

 

[Rcflyer330]

No, I did not replace the wheel bearings on the 2009. I have not done anything as of yet. Tires only have about 6,000 miles

Ok, then you have a bad left front wheel bearing according to your description there is always a possibility it is something else but most of the time its a wheel bearing. just for your information the old test of feeling for play by shaking the wheel with it off the ground will not work these bearings make noise long before they will get any play.

 

[Fbird]

Just did the exact same thing on my 06 went with TIMKEN from rock auto...about $80 takes about 45 min