Humm or drone from wheels? Louder when turning right

[Daveskis]

2004 Explorer limited V8. Stock.

Started out with a humm. I was sure it was the tires which needed replacement. But alas, when the tires were replaced the noise continued and continued to get louder.

Now it's a fairly constant drone and even louder when I turn right. "Wha- wha wha" It's barely noticeable when I am turning left. I have had the left front wheel bearing replaced and even though they swear it was bad and needed replacement, it did not stop the noise.

Any suggestions? Do I take it to the dealer and ask for a diagnostic?

Thanks
Dave

 

[Donner]

Hey Dave... grab the flashlight and have a look around the wheel well area for signs of rubbing (darker areas). Have you changed struts recently?

 

[ArcticGabe]

Does it seem to pull in one direction or the other when accelerating? Is it a 2wd or 4wd?

 

[tower]

From what you describe it really sounds like a wheel bearing. Check the rear ones, I have had mine replaced 2 times.

 

[EasyRhino]

Wheel bearings that do not last as long as usual are a problem in the 3rd gen Explorers.

I replaced both of my fronts at about 83K or so. Sounded like your symptoms. Some have had to replace rear wheel bearings, a harder job than the fronts. If you pay to have this done, it can be painfully expensive, but the do it yourself method requires some car knowledge and skill (and special tools in some cases).

Many have found it hard to determine if it was a front or rear bearing, mine was pretty obvious when I raised the front and turned the wheels by hand.

Recommend a search of this site for both front and rear wheel bearing
problems.

Good luck.

 

[Nytroman]

2004 Explorer limited V8. Stock.

Started out with a humm. I was sure it was the tires which needed replacement. But alas, when the tires were replaced the noise continued and continued to get louder.

Now it's a fairly constant drone and even louder when I turn right. "Wha- wha wha" It's barely noticeable when I am turning left. I have had the left front wheel bearing replaced and even though they swear it was bad and needed replacement, it did not stop the noise.

Any suggestions? Do I take it to the dealer and ask for a diagnostic?

Thanks
Dave

could need possible alignment, you also said you replaced left wheel bearing, get the right one fixed, or you may have gotten a defective wheel bearing(Warranty work sucks!)

 

[Thelt]

I would jack it up and check each wheel for play. If you can move the wheel back and forth then it is a bad wheel bearing. It sounds like that is what you have, mine was doing the same thing until I had both rears replaced.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

Noisier when turning right is a bad left side bearing. You're loading that side more on a right hand turn, so a bad bearing gets louder.

I had a bad left rear bearing, and did both of them at the same time. If one's bad, the other usually isn't too far behind.

Really, that's the only real failure this vehicle has had since I've owned it, and it's almost got 100,000 miles on it now.

 

[Thelt]

I was at 120k when I had to replace both rear ones. If they hold up half as well as the factory ones then I will not have to worry about it again.

 

[Nytroman]

If you can move the wheel back and forth then it is a bad wheel bearing...

be careful, that could be very misleading....moving a tire up and down with pressure off suspension could be upper/lower ball joint play, and moving left to right with play could be tie rods inner or outer.

 

[Thelt]

be careful, that could be very misleading....moving a tire up and down with pressure off suspension could be upper/lower ball joint play, and moving left to right with play could be tie rods inner or outer.

Could be, mine had a lot of play in it and it was the wheel bearings so that is my experience. I am not a mechanic so I will defer to those of you who are more knowledgible.