Front End Noise & Steering Wheel Shake

[mranderson214]

Hello Everyone,

I'm experiencing some strange behavior with my 02 Explorer and I'm hopeful and certain that someone here can help me out.

Background:
I have an '02 Explorer XLT, V6, 4x4 with about 189K on the odometer. She's still running great but I recently started experiencing some noise from the front end, accompanied by a steering wheel shake.

Problem:
Basically on hard right turns (i.e. into/out of a parking spot), I'm getting a popping sound. Kind of like a pop and something like a crunching sound almost. It happens if I'm in Drive or Reverse and the wheel it turned hard right. In addition, the steering wheel dances gently from side-to-side, no matter how fast/slow I'm driving. Lastly while making right turns (i.e. getting on/off of highways), while on the on/off ramp, I feel a vibration from the floor of the car, felt mainly under the drivers side. I feel it in my left foot as I'm getting on/off the freeway. This leads me to think that the problem is something wrong on the drivers side front wheel. When I'm slowing down, the front end sort of gently wobbles from side to side from about 25 down to 0mph. Sometimes, on a few occasions, the car pulls gently to the left (into oncoming traffic). Lastly, while driving down the road, occasionally, I'd hear a popping sound from the front end.

This all just started about a week ago, and within that week; it's gotten slightly worse as time goes on.

What I've Done:
So I've had the following things done in the recent past (mostly before the problem started).
-4 Wheel Alignment
-Wheels Balanced
-Drivers front wheel Bearing replaced
-Both front control arms replaced
-Power Steering fluid is fine
-Passenger tie rod replaced (Drivers sides' are fine according to several mechanics)

I was told that my front drivers side strut was leaking a little bit but the springs are still fine.

So what do you guys think? I'm thinking it might be the CV joints (or CV axle), or the drivers side strut thats causing me these issues. The only thing is, would a bad strut have these symptoms even though the spring is fine and still supporting the weight? Also, the CV boots look fine from a visual inspection; could they still be bad even though the boots are intact?

Thanks for any help that anyone can provide! I just don't want to get overcharged to have something fixed that's not even the issue.

 

[ccm2001]

If you have struts could be your strut bearings have someone turn the wheel while you look at your struts

 

[extra-medium]

Strut bearings??? um..ok...

Struts have up and down movement so they shouldn't make sounds when your wheels are at full lock. If the driver side is leaking that just means there is now fluid left inside so your ride might be a little bouncier since you only have the coil spring and no shock absorber to reduce road bumps. I would start with cv axles, r u joints on the drive shaft, and then maybe get into hub/bearings, and maybe the differential, and your rack and pinion. Aside from those there aren't any other parts that should be causing said noise up front.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

when I replaced my rack and pinion at 145k, the inner tie rods are very loose but not that point that there is a play. I'd check that out first, then the CV joint and front differential. Some tried removing the front shaft to isolate front diff issues.

btw, it's not struts, it's coil overs and I don't think there is a bearing.

 

[IPcamper]

I would try something stupid and obvious and check that the lug nuts are tighten correctly, I had tires replaced once and the shop didn't torque one wheel properly and it acted wobbly like you describe. I would check the ball joints, tie-rod end, and wheel bearings. after those there isn't much that should give the wobbly feel except a tire going bad.

 

[swshawaii]

Surprised this doesn't come up more often. The stock lower control arms have steering limiters to prevent damage to the power steering system. If the LCA contact points are dry they will cause a loud grinding or popping noise and vibration when slowly moving over bumps at FULL steering lock. It's a very obnoxious metal to metal sound and feeling that's easily fixed by lubing with heavy waterproof grease. Also check the sway bar end links and lower ball joints while under there. Round steering stop "nub" is seen on the left of pic. Grease the frame points the "nubs" contact at full steering lock. This will have no effect with regular driving.

 

[mranderson214]

Wow!

Thanks all for the replies.

I'm personally convinced that it might be something with the CVs. I'd hear a "thud" type of sound while driving down the road at a moderately constant speed, most noticeable around 30-45mph. It becomes more prominent when i let off the gas and begin coasting to a stop. It'd make that sound every few seconds as I decelerate.

I'll start with the easy things such as checking the lug nuts. I checked those already but it wouldn't hurt to check that again.

The wheel bearing/hub assembly was changed back in August and I'm not having any bearing noises (howls), so I'm ruling that one out for now.

Based off of the sounds that I'm hearing, it doesnt sound like creaking so I'm convinced that its not related to the struts, at least not directly. The leak is very small and I was told that I could go for several more months as it looks like the leak just started and is barely noticeable.

The tie rods were checked and I was told that everything was "nice and tight" but I guess it's possible that it might be going bad.

The tire itself is still pretty good. Not the best but its definitely still got a fair amount of thread on it. And the wear is evenly distributed, meaning that there's no particular patterns of balding on the tire.

As for control arms, the upper control arm + ball joint was changed out back in late august. I havent done anything with the lower control arm yet but that's also worth looking into.

Wow, you guys gave me a lot to consider. I'll begin investigating, knocking one thing off the list until (hopefully) I find the issue. Hopefully its something as simple as a loose lugnut. I don't think thats the case because I've had the wheel taken off a few times since the problem started, but one can hope.

I'll post back with my findings.

 

[mranderson214]

Also, yesterday (10/29); I noticed that the pull to the left is slowly becoming more dominant.

Just to test it out. I lined myself up straight in an empty parking lot and slowly gave it gas. I reached around 15 mph and I noticed that every few seconds, the steering wheel would make a tilt to the left and I began slowly pulling to the left. I put it back straight and held one finger at one of the notches in the steering wheel. It eventually began to try and "push" my finger to the left.

The ground was level, So it definitely seems like the little pull I mentioned is becoming more of a heavier pull. It's still controllable though.

EDIT: I just watched a youtube video about worn lower control arm bushings and it seems that I have some of the symptoms they mention. The clunk/thud that I am hearing may be coming from the fact that the wheel is moving backward and forward as I accelerate and decelerate. Does this sound feasible to you guys?

 

[swshawaii]

As for control arms, the upper control arm + ball joint was changed out back in late august. I havent done anything with the lower control arm yet but that's also worth looking into.

Surprised no mention of LOWER ball joints in this thread, although impossible to get a good alignment when bad.
Besides front sway bar end links, probably the single most common suspension part failure with these trucks.

 

[pet575]

I'd agree on closely checking the lower ball joint and the mounting location/hardware/bushings for the lower control arm. While you're there, also pull on the sway bar end to see if there is any play in it.

While you're taking off wheels to check these things, swap the front tires and make sure this problem doesn't magically switch over to the passenger side. Easy way to eliminate any type of issue with the tire/wheel that doesn't cost you more than 5 minutes of your time.

If all of that check out, the next place I'd turn my attention is disconnecting the front drive shaft. A bad transfer case and/or front differential could be causing a problem as well.

One final thing- are all of your tires similarly worn? One tire that does not match the others when it comes to tread depth can mess with an AWD system. I realize that you list yours as 4X4 but I'm just throwing it out there as another cheap/easy thing to consider.

 

[mranderson214]

Thanks All,

I'll be going to my mechanic this week and having him look at the lower control arm hardware and the sway bar end links, as well as some of the other things mentioned.

If everything "looks" fine, I'll have him swap the two front tires (L to R and R to L).

The tires are equally worn. I currently have my 4x4 disabled (disconnected the 4x4 control module). So technically, I'm back wheel drive right now; but I won't be in a few weeks when the snow comes back.

 

[mranderson214]

My apologies on the late update, its been hectic with midterms..

Basically, I went to my mechanic and he says that the lower control arm, ball joint and bushing all seem fine. He showed me that it was a little bit loose but nothing major at all.

I'll be investigating front tires and maybe a bent rim next.. I forgot to switch the two front tires and see if the problem shifts to the other side, as mentioned before. Will keep investigating and post back here with my findings in case anyone else has a similar problem.

 

[1996EB]

I just had a quick scan through your post. This could also be something to look into...a couple of years ago I had some front end suspension work done and air got into the power steering system. There is a process for getting the air out- something like multiple lock to lock turns of the steering wheel, but apparently it wasn't done properly at the shop. During my drive home my steering wheel started shaking from side to side and it felt like one of my wheels was wobbling. I even stopped to check if the lug nuts were tight and they were. I went back to the shop and they test drove it and realized what the issue was. If remember correctly, they followed the procedure again and it eliminated the air in the system. I've been driving for years and had never experienced (or heard) of this before and not since, but it was definitely air in the power steering system.

 

[mranderson214]

1996EB: thanks for your reply. I had front end work done, so it may be possible that this might've happened to me too. I'll consider that as well next time that I speak to my mechanic.

I've had my control arms, wheel bearing, tie rods and some other steering/suspension parts changed so it may be possible I suppose.

 

[mranderson214]

Hello Everyone,

I just realized that I never replied to this

Firstly, Happy New Year!!

UPDATE: The problem has been resolved as of 12/17/14. It wasnt a hardware issue surprisingly. It was my front tires, mostly the driver's side tire.

The tires were wearing and caused a rumble in the front end. It took a little while for me to find two matching tires like my back tires so that the 4x4 behaved properly. The vibrations that I've been feeling made me think that it had to be hardware related. I got two new tires and all seems well now.

My bushings, control arms, tie rods and everything else mentioned were in good shape. I'll need new shocks for the front as one is beginning to leak. I'll be taking care of that next. With the new tires, she runs good as new; even with almost 191K on her!

Thanks everyone for all the help throughout!!