Humming/Vibration from front wheels while driving?

[Fire488]

I found the sound masked lots of other stuff going on in the truck.

Get a tech to take a ride with you. Someone who deals with this stuff - day-in-day-out would have a better idea of what to tell you.

If that truck has never had the hubs replaced, then the fronts are long overdue. I thought I didn't have noise from my backs either, but I did and replacing the backs revealed it. I replaced the backs under advice of the techs. It is an expensive proposition so I understand your reluctance to jump in. How long do you plan to keep the truck?

I would have liked to keep it a few more years anyway. I have already invested so much in the last 2 years into it. Seems its starting to fall apart. I'm coming from a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder that is still running with more that 500k on it and i never had a problem with it.

 

[TourGuide]

Well, wheel bearings seem to be a known failure point after 75k. If you put good quality parts in you ought to have at least that many trouble free miles.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Fire488]

Well, wheel bearings seem to be a known failure point after 75k. If you put good quality parts in you ought to have at least that many trouble free miles.

Good luck with your decision.

Good advice! Thanks.

 

[Fire488]

As an update to those that were following this post I have changed the front hub assemblies and used the recommended Motorcraft units.
The noise is completely gone now. Seemed to be the culprit. I will do the rears next just to be sure even though they are quite at this time.

Thanks to everyone here for the great advice and assistance.

 

[TourGuide]

Glad to hear it cleared things up for you.

Doing the backs, even though they are a pain, is a good idea. Then you'll have the clock ticking for all of them around the same time.

I went with Timken bearings in the back and I bought from reputable sellers off Amazon. Those bearings are great and should provide a good 75k trouble free.

 

[Fire488]

Glad to hear it cleared things up for you.

Doing the backs, even though they are a pain, is a good idea. Then you'll have the clock ticking for all of them around the same time.

I went with Timken bearings in the back and I bought from reputable sellers off Amazon. Those bearings are great and should provide a good 75k trouble free.

I use Timken on many of the drive repairs i do on marine applications like stern drives and outboards. They hold up well.

 

[SBV45]

My 2009 Explorer 4x4 has developed a hum at about 35 to 40 and gets louder to about 60 then tapers off at about 65 and almost gone by 70. It comes back with a vengeance when making a sweeping left turn like on an overpass. I had my local tire shop check it out and they said probably wheel bearings or front U-joint. It is consistent with speed. Tires are stock and all at correct pressure. I have about 65K miles on it.

 

[TourGuide]

Sounds like the same issue to me. Front bearings would be my guess.

 

[SBV45]

Doing both front wheels. Do I understand that wheel bearings at 65K miles is common?

 

[Explorer_PL]

Unfortuantely yes, although these days you would expect at least 100k miles out of it. My first one went at 99k miles, but I have read of them going earlier.

 

[SBV45]

Replacing both front wheel bearings quieted down the noise but unmasked some additional noise. Replacing a RR wheel bearing got rid of the noise from the rear. However another noise and "rubbing" from front drive is there. The noise or rubbing is felt in the steering wheel. While the problem is felt all the time it is not consistent with speed like a wheel bearing while frequency increases with vehicle speed. It is quite noticeable.

It seems a bearing would be consistent but a bad ujoint might be less consistent depending on position of the wheel as you drive down the road. Few of the roads around here are relatively smooth.

Any thoughts?