Is this normal for an Explorer?

[5.0 works best]

97 ford explorer 5.0 xlt awd

I have never owned an explorer or a suv for that matter so when i put mine on the road an drove it for the first time it kinda spooked me. I hear a loud hum that is clearly from the transfer case/drive axle area and sounds.feels like i'm driving a 4x4 on dry pavement. we just got snow and it has no problem turning the front tires in reverse and the back tires do break loose when i get on it, has thrown me for some crazy 360s so i believe the transfer case is working. I have checked the fluids and it is in dire need of oil, tranmisson and trans case fluid change as i would suspect it may never had one, if it did was years ago. it feels pretty aggressive to drive but i'm told by everyone this is how they ride. i've only drove 2 wheel trucks, mini vans and basicly mustangs the past 15 years

 

[my pos mounty]

You shouldn't be hearing any "whines" or "hums" coming from the drivetrain. If you are, it is trying to tell you something is wrong. Alot of variables here, when do you hear the noises?
How loud does the noise get?
Is the noise speed specific?
Does it change pitch relative to speed?
Any wierd sensations in the streeing wheel when you hear the noise?
Does it seem to be coming from the front? Rear? Just in the middle?
Does it get louder when cornering?

 

[5.0 works best]

the hum/vibration is not effected by rpm. it remains about the same no matter what speed i'm doing. the vibration fells like right below me but the sound almost sounds like it's coming from the four corners. it kinda reminds me off being in a truck with super swampers in 4 wheel drive on dry pavement. it does this the entire time my explorer is moving even after applying the brakes to slow down until i stop. turning is not effected by this. i do need tires but they are fully inflated and don't seem to wobble as i can remove hand from steering wheel and drive straight. i'm not currently driving it at moment until i change the fluids and farther inspection to find out the problem. everyone i know who has had an explorer says this is how awd is and that there is nothing wrong but it seems a bit aggressive to be normal

 

[JohnnyO]

I had that problem on a Ranger I used to have. Took it to the dealer since I was still on warranty, they poked and prodded and couldn't find anything until they switched tires with a brand new Ranger sitting on the lot. Noise gone. Apparently the A/T tires simply got louder as they wore down.

 

[my pos mounty]

I do not think this is "normal" for an AWD Explorer, especially since the noise is unaffected by RPM. That rules out all the "usual suspects" as those noises change pitch as you increase speed. Get new good quality tires, (I suggest Michelin LTX M/S as these last long, great traction, very quiet) change all the fuids you already listed as well as the front and rear differentials. I would also change the U-joints on the front and rear driveshafts as these can make some strange noises. Mark the driveshaft location to the differential flange and the U-joint to the driveshaft flange (if present) so that you re-assemble them in the correct orientation. They were balanced that way and you want to keep it.

 

[5.0 works best]

i'm kinda suspecting the drive shafts as being the culprit, i was thinking about pulling the front drive shaft first since i can still move it that way as i've learned from threads on this sites, but wanted to make sure i had all the details first, had no idea these shafts were specific so i will be marking it now. pretty happy i asked first. i was gonna replace my tires with 235/75/15 LT tires as these will remain my winter rims (running 24's for summer rims) but i'm not sure if LT tires will be a good idea and i've had very good luck using Michelin tires. i should have included this in my original post, we just got pounded with snow and while moving my truck in the snow i've noticed that it will drive 4 wheel very nice but all most as if on command if i hop on it the rear tires will kick out and fish tail like a rear wheel drive in the snow, could this be related to my problem or is that the transfer case shifting power

 

[my pos mounty]

235/75/15's? You sure about that? Guessing those are your "winter" rims.. thought they all had 16's.
When its feasible, take out the front driveshaft, drive the truck around a little while. The front end will feel alot lighter, and you will get alot more "go" out of the truck, but try to contain your excitement on your new found horsepower, and listen for the noises thru your grin.Most of your noise is probably from the front driveshaft. Not a cheap replacement here either. If this is your problem, contact "ericautopart" on this forum. He is a forum vedor, a listing of all the vendors can be found here:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=103

Still, when/if you get tires, make sure you buy a SET of four (or 5 with spare) as they MUST be matched as far as circumferance is concerned. This will minimize noises as well. (also minimize transfercase, cv axle, and possible differential damage that WILL occur if you disregard this) Michelin LTX MS will last you at least 80,000 miles. I only replaced mine after a stop in a shady neighborhood, someone stabbed the sidewall of two of them.

 

[SmoothJimmy]

I believe 97's on had the option of 15s or 16s. My '96 came only with 235/75R15 and with that they remain. I had been running Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo for 65k miles and now the Revo2. The Revo2 seems a bit noisier when new, but it's winter and that happens when tires/bushings get cold.

I had the from diff whine when turning and climbing from about 35k on (at 150k now) even with the stock street tread. If it's the front driveshaft, I should know come Monday when my new OE replacement (thanks ericautopart!) arrives and goes in. If it was the pinion/ring interface in the Dana 35 IFS, I'll find that out today when I tear it down and inspect. I'll report regardless.

I searched for info on this front-end whine quite a bit a few years back and most responses were that it is "normal"

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[my pos mounty]

Maybe they found a fix for the front end whine? Mine never made any noise, until it got chewed up. It had close to 300,000 miles on it with 0 problems. It wasn't a front end problem that killed it, more of a defective relative gave bad advice to someone that was driving it at the time.

 

[5.0 works best]

further testing tonight results, the noise is on the drive side which would be why no one i had in the passenger seat heard anything wrong. it is definatly in the front end. the kid who had this before me recently replaced the cv shafts but isn't mechanical and too cheap to go to the garage leaving me to wonder if the backyard mechanic might have not filled the diff properly or at all. daylight and i will check the front end out and see but either way i'm gonna have to pop the seal and check for fluid in the front and might as well do the rear axle at the same time. never doing a 4 wheel drive like this i will need to be guided, is changing the fluid in the front the same as trans case, manual tranny, rear axle? or is this gonna be something completely differant? last thing here is when i got my truck safetied i had the 22's on it, now i've got the stock rims with crap tires and noticed i have belts coming out on the front driver side tire, will be replacing all four and fluid before driving anymore but could this maybe be part of the problem?

 

[SmoothJimmy]

there's a single square fill/drain plug on the side of the Dana35 IFS. Use a 3/8ths ratchet with a short extension to remove. Get a suction gun like this...

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...14&prev=/images?q=suction+gun+auto&hl=en&um=1

and slurp out all the old oil. Refill with 75w90 synthetic (approx 1 qt) using the same suction gun. No need for friction modifier on the front.

Unless it's currently real dry, an oil replace will reduce the noise, but not make it go away.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the stock 95-01 section.

 

[Electrohacker]

ive always had a slight insignificant front diff noise, constant no changes

 

[jremington59]

I was going to tell you that if the tires aren't uniform than the truck senses something wrong and shifts power thinking a tire is spinning.

When I bought mine one of the fronts was worn and I had the same hum and 4 wheel feeling. I put 4 good tires on it and it's the greatest thing in the snow and smooth....

 

[SmoothJimmy]

a note regarding the fluid type for the front differential. While most folks recommend a synthetic (me too!) for the Dana 35 IFS, it comes stock from Dana with non-synthetic oil. If you go the synthetic route, it's NOT a good idea to just top-off the (current, unknown) fluid with synth, since you may be mixing types and that's not such a good idea. Short of dropping the axle to get all the old lube out, make sure you suction it dry before the new juice goes in.

 

[5.0 works best]

i'm pretty glad i joined this now. i was just thinking that since it sounds like there is low or maybe no fluid in the front maybe i should grab some oil and dump it in to see if that changes anything, didn't even cross my mind about what i might be mixing it with. thank you everyone for your help! i'll post when i get to do the fluid changes and let you all know what happened

 

[5.0 works best]

my end to this post, problem was wheel bearings which i had to replace both hubs since they are unservicable. can't believe something so simple made it seem like a serious problem. one was pretty close to seized and the other was strill hard to turn.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update!