Front end whirling noise

[Gary255]

My 01 XLT 4x4 has a whirling or howling noise between 20 and 40 MPH that seems to be coming from the front drivers side. I had the left bearing hub assembly replaced along with the needle bearings in the differential with no luck.It drives very quiet at highway speeds though when coasting to a stop at 40 MPH on down the noise appears right until I stop. I have all new tires, new front shocks, front end alignment,rotors and pads are good. Would a cv joint cause this problem or a problem with the transfer case? It's to the point to where it's very irritating just driving in town at slow speed. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

 

[Gary255]

Anybody?

 

[98BlackXSport]

I have a noise like that with my '98. I have tried many things to fix it. I am also wondering if it could be a CV. The CV boots look good though.

 

[Kamaaina]

Sometimes I get a "whirring" noise from my front end and I found out that it's my tires. The tread on the out edge is slightly feathered so when I'm driving straight ahead the tips of the raised tread contacts the pavement and makes the sound. Try rotating your tires and/or play with tire pressures and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Sallad420]

What about wheel bearings? I'm trying to fix mine as well.

 

[Wichitagreg]

Could it be gear noise? My v8 awd also has a distinct gear whine when leaving a stop sign.


Being a motorcyclist, my ears are very close to the engine/tranny on any bike I ride. Some bikes are worse than others. My current bike, a Valkyrie 6 cyl opposed, has a very loud whine that comes from the transmission straight cut gears. Other bikes will have a whine from the read end gears on the shaft, and still others will have cam chain noise so loud you can't hear the exhaust.

On the awd, I just figure its gear noise and ***ataboutit.

No the ball joint knocking around...that bothers me.

Greg
Wichita
97 V8 AWD

 

[IZwack]

Gary255 and/or 98BlackXSport >> have you found the cause of the whine in your X? And if you have, what did you do to fix it?

 

[Gary255]

IZwack,no I have not found the source of my whirling noise. I'm beginning to think the noise may be in the gearing in the front differential. I can actually feel it in my steering wheel just coasting to a stop. Maybe the passenger side wheel bearing is bad yet the noise seems to be loudest on the drivers side. I'm out of ideas. Anybody?..........

 

[deanneaverth]

Your issue wih noise

I have the same problem with my 2000 XLT 5.0 and I replaced the u joint on the front to no avail. My mechanic took the front drive line off and drove it, wella the noise and slight vibration stopped. The problem is between the transfer case and the front wheels. My best solution is to put in dual exhaust and dround out the noise but the slight vibration will remain. Anybody!