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Light Vibration and Faint Grind Sound

Darken_Shadow

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Joined
February 20, 2010
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Year, Model & Trim Level
2002 Explorer XLT V6
Hi guys, my 2002 Explorer XLT V6 with 77,000 miles has been bothering me ever since I noticed this issue a couple of weeks ago.

When accelerating or coasting while under 10mph, I can hear a faint grinding or rubbing sound accompanied by a very light vibration for a fraction of a second. It isn't very noticeable since you cannot hear or feel it when typically moving faster than 10mph and rarely anyone has heard/felt it unless I mentioned it. I can feel it since I know it is there in the floorboard and I suppose the steering wheel. Can't really hear it too well, but I think it is coming from the front.

It is rhythmic since it seems to occur every other second or as if it happens right at the time when the wheel (or something else) finishes a complete rotation and begins its next. This is most noticeable when letting off of the brake to creep a few feet forward at stop lights or when I am lightly accelerating from a dead stop. Issue persists even when I throw it into neutral and turn off the vehicle and let it roll down the block from 15 to 0.

The torque converter was replaced about 2-3 years ago and the only other thing wrong that I can see is a slowly leaking front differential.

Just got new tires and replaced the front left outer tie rod this morning and hoped this might magically fix it. No luck. I'm not very car savvy, but perhaps some if you guys might have ideas.

Thanks!
 






Lift the front tires and inspect. Sounds like bad wheel bearings or brakes.
 






Lift the front tires and inspect. Sounds like bad wheel bearings or brakes.

I forgot to mention that I preformed a basic check. Lifted front and noticed no wiggle from wheels. Brakes appear to be fine as I noticed no rubbing and the wheels spun without causing abnormal noise or hesitation.
 












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