Loud noise from front end!!

[PhillyV8Power]

Ok so my front brakes where making some noise for about a month or 2 when you got real heavy on them.Now when I get anywhere above 20 mph I get a loud droning sound like I have 2, 50 gallon drums up front for tires if that makes sense.Ive messed with the tire pressure but that didn't help.I was gonna rotate the tires but I thought I would come here first.When I say it sounds like im rolling on a 50 gallon drum that's what it sounds like a hollow drone of sorts.Any ideas would be helpful ty

 

[rb142]

Obviously you need to check the brakes out thoroughly to make sure there isn't anything wrong there. Are the pads worn down to the rivets?

If your drum noise isn't coming from the brakes, check the wheel bearings.

 

[PhillyV8Power]

How do i check the wheel bearings?.Its definitely a rotational/speed noise.Last year When i replaced the balljoints(upper/lower) both sides& both front struts,rotors,pads, the noise was there but very quiet.It has progressed over the year.So im thinking bearings..maybe

 

[rb142]

Jack it up and spin the wheel by hand while listening for the noise from the wheel hub area. You might even be able to tell that it doesn't feel smooth to turn. There are some videos on youtube that give good demonstrations of what bad bearings sound like.

 

[Doozer233]

I had a noise in the front end of mine that sounding like I had mud tires. It ended up being the wheel bearings on the left side. Replaced the hub assembly and it was fine. Another thing you can try is to see if the noise changes at all when you make a turn. If it goes away when you turn to the right, it's probably your left wheel bearings and vice versa.

 

[PhillyV8Power]

The **** hit the fan last night.Wife was driving home,felt a rumble in the steering wheel,it started to swerve.She was crossing a big bridge in the area with no turn off,so she had to keep going.She kept it under control as best as possible,but by the time she crossed the bridge and could safely get out of the way,smoke started coming from the drivers wheel area.It was on fire big flames and all.Fire department got there right away,she is ok just very very shaken up.Now it looks like the hub assembly or wheel bearing failed,idk what caused the fire.You can see some wires where burned im not sure of the full damage.If anyone can point out what looks broken burned it would be a great help.I hope the pics are clear.I need help here big time,thank you

 

[swshawaii]

Obviously a complete CV failure. Very surprised it wasn't screaming for help MUCH earlier. Glad everyone's safe.

 

[PhillyV8Power]

Do you it was sparking or something to catch the hoses/wires on fire?

 

[my98nnj]

The CV boot was most likely burnt up in the fire and may not have been the cause. The only thing that could really generate enough heat to cause a fire would be the brakes. Perhaps the caliper or guide pins seized and the constant friction produced a red hot rotor. The rest is history, brake fluid is flammable.

I'm betting on the brakes as the cause.

Everything subjected to the heat of that fire should be replaced. Complete hub, axle, brakes and maybe the upper control arm.

 

[swshawaii]

^ Very good point. He'll find out the cause, I'm sure.

 

[delexploder]

Wow! I agree

 

[delexploder]

The burnt wire is your ABS sensor and its easy to replace, once you replace everything else

 

[PhillyV8Power]

Thankfully my mom in laws new boyfriend owns a shop he said he would tow it there & replace everything.Thanks mom lol.Im just glad shes home safe.

 

[RomeovilleIL]

The CV boot was most likely burnt up in the fire and may not have been the cause. The only thing that could really generate enough heat to cause a fire would be the brakes. Perhaps the caliper or guide pins seized and the constant friction produced a red hot rotor. The rest is history, brake fluid is flammable.

I'm betting on the brakes as the cause.

Everything subjected to the heat of that fire should be replaced. Complete hub, axle, brakes and maybe the upper control arm.

I agree. My guess would be brakes wore down enough that the piston came out of the caliper. That would spray brake fluid all over the hot rotor causing a fire. A catastrophic hub failure will often separate and lose the wheel. A check of the rotor will tell for sure - deep grooves from the rivets would indicate the pads were gone.