HELP!!.....Grinding noise coming from front end! Any Ideas?

[imq707s]

I've got a 97' Mountaineer (AWD w/5.0 v8) w/ 135,000 miles on it. I've got a horrible grinding noise coming from the front of my truck which feels like it's coming from the drivers side. I can feel it through the floor at speeds around 20 mpg (only if I'm turning). I've replaced about every part I can think of and the noise is still there, I'm affraid to drive it becuase I don't want to cause any more damage. It sounds like a worn bearing noise, a grinding kind of noise.

Here is some more info.

1. I can start to hear the noise at around 15mph, and as I accelerate it goes away at around 40mph.

2. If I'm driving straight around 20mph, as I turn to the right the noise gets louder, if I turn to the left it gets a little quieter.

3. At highway speeds the noise it gone....smooth as can be.

Here are the parts that I've replaced.

1. Both front wheel bearing hub assemblys.
2. Both front CV shafts
3. Front driveshaft that goes from transfercase to from differential.
4. New front rotors and brake pads.
5. And my latest attempt to fix the problem....dropping the front diff and having it completely rebuilt.

Some other troubles shooting that I've done...

1. Jack the truck up on all 4 corners, had someone get in and run it up to around 20mph and I got under the truck to listen for the noise.....NO NOISE.

2. I removed the front driveshaft and drove the truck around.....the noise was still there.

3. I took the truck to Ford and had them diagnose the problem for me. They said that they were sure it was a passenger side wheel bearing (to bad I already replaced that).

So needless to say...I'm about fed up with this problem. I've dumped way to much cash into this Mounatineer and the problem is still there. It's made the noise for the last year or so, but over the last month it's gotten really bad.

PLEASE!!....if anyone has any ideas, let me know!!

And if you have any questions that may help you solve my problem, please post them and I will reply.

It's bad enough now where I'm affraid to even drive it.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Blee1099]

Jack the truck up and grab the tire. Try pushing the tire. If you can visibily see the cv axle going in & out of the hub then its the hub bearing assembly.

 

[imq707s]

Both Hub bearing assemblys and CV Shafts are brand new.


Everything up front seems tight. The only thing that I haven't replaced is the lower ball joints, but I don't think they would be causing this problem.

 

[budwich]

Your problem is that your rotor is rubbing on the arms of one of your calipers. My guess that's its your left one since as you turn right, your body / frame / center of gravity "shifts" to the left. The solution... could be a number of things but since a lot of stuff has been replaced, it could just be incorrect assembly. Originally, when I had the same problem, it was the spindle / hub / bearing assembly. As you indicated, it would only make noise when there was a turn (I think mine was left). At highway speeds, it was fine although at high speeds, I could hear the bearing noise increase. Make sure that your rotor is properly seated against the hub... I found that it was easy to not get that to happen and as a result, there was a slight "twist" in alignment. It is possible that one of your new bearing spindles is bad. The other thing to check. Look for marks on your caliper arms where the rotor has "slightly ground / touched" the sides.

 

[falls guy]

Holy crap I hate when that happens. Are you certain the work was done correctly? Or maybe a defective bearing was put in it. Don't feel bad I've got the same problem with a different set up all together. I've got manual hubs and transfer case and can't find the howl in the front of my ex either. After all the money it sounds like you've spent, I'd just drive it till it breaks, then you'll know what's wrong.That's what i've decided to do. Whatever it is will eventually appear once it gets really bad.Good luck.
Peace

 

[Turdle]

I had a problem kind of like this. When you back up is there a slight clunk, then forward a slight clunk then the grind?

 

[imq707s]

I did all the work myself, so I'm sure the work was done right. The only thing that I had done by a shop was rebuilding the front diff.

I've had the left and right side of the front apart several times, and everything has been put back together correctly. I've looked at both rotors and I can't see any marks where they would be rubbing anything.

I jacked the truck up on all 4 corners and removed all the tires. I then put a few lug nuts on the studs to hold the rotors on tight....then I dropped it in drive. As the motor was idleing and the speedo was reeding around 20mph, I got up under the truck and listened for any kind of noise....nothing. I went around to each caliper and rotor and listened...nothing!

BUT!!....if I got inside the truck and put a little pressure on the brake pedal just to put a load on the drivetrain...I could start to hear the noise.

I guess when there is no load on the drivetrain, there is no noise. When I put some load on the drivetrain...I hear the noise. I even had someone else hop in and apply light pressure on the brakes. After I could hear the noise from the inside I got under the truck.....all I could hear was the motor. The noise was to soft to hear under the truck.

Any other ideas??

Thanks for the help guys.