help noisey front end

[94explorerEB]

Ok as the title says the front of my x is making alot of racket, like scrubbing sounds, popping sounds sometimes a clank sound. I replace the rotors and this past summer and after driving it for a couple months they felt loose alittle. So I tightened them alittle bit and it seemed fine. Now a couple months later the passenger side was loose, I just tightened it back up tonight. Did a test drive and its still making the scrubbing popping and clanking sounds. I've been dealing with it for a month now and its starting to affect the way it brakes and I don't have the money to take it to the shop. Any help would be greatly appreciated this is my DD so I need to fix this asap.

btw 1992 explorer 2wd

 

[94explorerEB]

I did some more searching and I didn't mention that every now and then when braking it shakes (the shaking is why I replaced the rotors in the first place). But I read a post that said worn tie rods ends would cause shake could this be the reason the rotors keep coming loose?

 

[YBCold]

have you checked the radius arm bushings.?

 

[94explorerEB]

Yeah I've already replace those about a month or so after I replaced the rotors.

 

[nitro71]

When does it make the sounds?

I'd jack it up. See if the ball joints move. Check tire play. Watch the tie rod ends. If those are bad they should be obviously loose.

What are the braking symptoms? Pulling or just poor braking?

 

[94explorerEB]

Ok got a new problem today, my brake pedal is now going to the floor. Along with the popping and clanking sounds, it feels like its wobbling at low speeds 20-30 mph. I havn't a chance to work with it since yesterday, I'm going to jack it up and check for wobble tomorrow after work. The scrubbing sound its making sounds like it could be the wheel bearing went out even though they got replace with the rotors. I did check the tie rods yesterday, had a buddy turn the wheel back and forth and it looked like there was about a 1/4 inch of play with both outter ends. I didn't think to look at the inner though I'll check that tomorrow to. Anything else I should check?

Oh and the braking symptoms after replacing the rotors and pads it braked like a champ but pulled to the right still. So I replaced the brake lines with explorer pro comp ss lines and that fixed the pulling issue. But it eventually started to shake when braking and it progressivley got worse, then the rotors started coming loose.

 

[nitro71]

Do you have manual hubs? Is the tit that locks the lock ring in place still there? Maybe your lock nuts are backing off?

 

[94explorerEB]

Its a 2wd but, I finally got to take everything apart and the passenger side seal on the back of the rotor had completly disintegrated so the grease had slung out and killed the bearing. And the driver side looked good but was alittle loose, I also got the tie rod ends in today. And the passenger side rotor was cover in grease I guess this would of cause the pedal going to the floor? The balljoints need to be replaced soon to maybe I can get to them next week. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[nitro71]

Fix those problems and after you get the new seals and the rotor cleaned with brake cleaner or carb cleaner or your favorite cleaner, lol, I'd put new brake shoes on the left and right, cheap ones are fine. You should always replace brake shoes, drums, calipers, hoses in pairs. Found out the hard way..

 

[cogs]

does the front have the locking ring/cotter pin that holds the rotor's nut? how are you tightening the nut?

 

[MCDavis]

Spun wheel bearing

I had a similar problem to yours. The "dead pedal" feel is from the bad bearing allowing the entire hub assembly to lean. The lean is causing the piston in the caliper to be pushed back thus fighting against the remainder of the braking system.
Two months ago I lost the drivers side wheel bearing @ 30 mph after driving on that dead pedal for a few miles of city driving. It was the last sign before the bearing finally just blew out and fell to pieces.