HELP! Buzzing, grinding, poping sound from front passenger wheel

[EliteConcept]

Hey guys
I need some serious help heres my problem

a couple nights ago i put my X in 4x4 for about 3 miles....because my dad told me its good to use it sometimes to keep it in working condition... later that night after the 4x4 was unengaged. I got a grinding, poping and buzzing sound from the front passeger wheelwell...it was very loud. when it did this the truck pulled very hard to the right. After a few minutes it went away...and was fine.

Zoom forward to this morning....I got in my truck to go to work....started down the road...and BUZZ, POP, GRIND... the sound is back....truck pulling hard to right again..it does it on and off....i had this before when i would turn corners and i was told it was the brake caliper pins...so those are all new..and it was fine up until after i engaged the 4x4 the other night.

i put it in 4x4 to see if it would make the same sounds.....and it did not...it worked fine in 4x4.
I just can't imanage that this is good for the truck to make those grind, pop, buzzz sounds..
Can anyone point me to what this problem could be?????

I need serious help

thanks,
ryan

 

[Steve94LTD]

how many miles?

 

[EliteConcept]

112,000
its a 1992 if that matters.

 

[Steve94LTD]

Dead Link Removed

see if that looks familiar

if you dont want to replace the bearing, you can buy a new hub from Ford Part Network and replace it... thats what Im going to do, Im just waiting till I get back @ school, so I can use a lift and have both hubs, and both rear shocks done in about 10 minutes. I have 3 other people helping me.. it should be REAL quick

 

[EliteConcept]

sounds fimiliar but I also replaced my front bearings this summer..

....what eles?

 

[Steve94LTD]

maybe its not the bearing.. it could just be that the hub is shot.. in which case fordpartsnetwork is still the way to go.

 

[EliteConcept]

the hub could be shot?

if thats the case wouldn't it not engage in 4x4????

It works better in 4x4 than with out it.

When 4x4 is not on thats when i get the buzzing and poping and grinding....

just want to make sure... so its probably not disengaging all the way???

thanks,
ryan

 

[irtySanchez]

The link that Steve94LTD provided is not about replacing the front wheel bearings, but about replacing the serviceable bearing inside the auto locking hub. If you were to pull the hub off, it is the bearing in the very bottom of the hub.

I have replaced that bearing before and it is a very easy fix.

Have you checked for proper adjustment of the front wheel bearings? I had a very similar problem before and that was my problem. I would SERIOUSLY consider checking that the spindle nutis properly adjusted. If it is loose, you will get that same popping, buzzing sound.

 

[EliteConcept]

irtySanchez

the things you told me to do or check, i have no idea what your talking about... I have limited knowledge on cars...let alone 4x4 systems....can you provide more details?

Can i drive in 4x4 since it works fine in that? without screwing something major up...if the problem is what your telling me?

thanks,
ryan

 

[irtySanchez]

Ok-

The automatic hub is the thing that says 4x4 on it and comes off when you take the wheel off. If you look into the inside of it, you will see a "C" shaped thing all the way in the bottom with 2 little holes on each end. You may have to wipe some grease away to see it. If you remove that "C" clip, a little bearing will pop out of there. Instead of replacing the whole automatic hub, some people start by replacing that bearing first. It only costs around $5, as compared to $150 for a whole new hub. The link that Steve provided has the part number for a replacement bearing.

Overall difficulty for someone with limited knowledge: 3.5 out of 10.

As for adjusting the wheel bearings, a bit more difficult, but not too hard. When you are taking the brake rotor off, there is a big nut that will seem pretty loose that needs to come off to take the rotor off. That big nut is what holds the wheel bearings and rotor to the spindle. It is also called the spindle nut. Get yourself a Haynes manual and check for the proper way to install (torque) that spindle nut. If you aren't sure what you are doing, take it to a mechanic and have them do it. It is relatively cheap.

Difficulty (assuming you have a Haynes manual): 5 out of 10


Hope that helped a bit. Good luck!

P.S.- read that link Steve provided for you. It will explain why that bearing in the automatic hub goes bad and may explain your problem.

 

[EliteConcept]

thanks for the help.

I'm going to look into checking that bearing.

If that still doesn't fix it..how is $161 for some Warn Standard Manual Hubs???? i just looked that up quickly so don't know what the average price is.



I still would like others input on my problem.

thanks,
ryan

 

[rseeley]

I live in Syracuse, NY and a was quoted $203 for Warn hubs by a local distributor. Your price seems quite reasonable. I think the hubs are a good place to start to resolve your problem.
Rob Seeley

 

[TunnelFear]

oh wow, syracuse eh? fulton here well, i only paid something like 150 for my manual warns from 4X4 warehouse. maybe it was a little less, maybe a little more....but it was right around there

 

[Steve94LTD]

before you put manuals in, think about what you want to use this car for.. do you want to take this car offroading a lot? If so, then get manual hubs, but if all you really want to do is put it on for some heavy snowfall, id seriously go automatic... Im going automatic again... I might do some WEAK offroading someday, but not enough to justify having to get out and lock the hubs...

 

[TunnelFear]

this is probably just a poor college student talking...but....even you dont do alot of wheelin, i think you should just go with the manual anyways. they are cheaper in price, but definately not in quality. i think gettin out and locking them in is worth saving $700 every 4 years or so. ahh well, just my 2 cents worth

 

[X24]

I had the same exact problem when I had my 93. This is what is happening: The nylon teeth that are in the hub are frayed and chipped from there being too much grease and dirt in the hub and (there should bearly be any greese in them) and from engaging them while moving... I dont care what anybody says but you should NEVER shift into 4X4 while moving. The little parts of the teeth that are sticking up catch on the locking part of the hub and cause the hub to sort of half engage. I was getting that a lot while driving down the road and making sharp turns. I finally got the hubs replaced when the passengers side completely locked up and I went off the road. Anyway, to make a long story short, I got the Warn manuals. Before all this happened I didnt know anything about the hubs. A friend of mine used to be a ford mechanic and he helped me put them on. You may want to have some help from someone who has an idea of how to do it. Other than that it is a fairly easy install. Just remember... NOT TOO MUCH GREASE!!
Good luck!

 

[EliteConcept]

i never go offroading with my X
but i think that manual hubs are cheaper anyways...
i am not sure whats going on with them
for the last 2 days the 2 wheel drive worked great...and last night it made the buzzing and grinding sound for just a second then it was fine.

my dads friend who he works with is a mechanic and works on alot of 4x4 systems for the local county highway department and he said that the grease in the hubs can sometimes get too cold and freeze....lately its been quite cold in my area...i'm not sure if its true or not...

thanks,
ryan