I'm clueless...

[Raptor_]

2005 Explorer EB 4.6L 4wd, 210k miles.

I'm getting a weird vibration/noise that I can't figure out.

From about 5-15 mph, I can feel it as a "ticking" in the steering wheel. This ticking feels faster than I expect the wheels to be turning.

At road speed, it sounds like a rumble, and there's a bit of vibration in the steering wheel.

At highway speeds, around 65-70 mph, there is a visible shimmy in the steering wheel if I don't grasp it, though the vehicle tracks straight as an arrow.

On long, slow curves, like at a cloverleaf on the interstate, the vibration in the steering wheel seems stronger.

Front bearings & brakes were replaced in the last month or so, and while it was in the shop I took a quick glance at the front axles, and the inner and outer CV boots appeared in decent shape (though I didn't inspect them closely). I'm not feeling the clunking I would expect from a U-joint issue, but I'm not sure what this could be.

Any educated guesses?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the tires. It might have a shifted belt.

 

[Raptor_]

So, it was just up on the rack at my mechanic's.

There is a visible oil leak at the front of my rear diff, where the drive line enters, and they believe that the bearing is failing and that's causing the noise, and I simply feel it in the steering wheel because the vibration is transmitting through the front drive. There is also a much less significant leak where the right front axle enters the front axle/diff assembly.

It's not making a lot of noise, and they don't feel it's something that needs immediate attention due to the number of labor involved in replacing the bearing and seal. Your opinions?