loud popping sound coming from the front end

[Stazz75]

Hey everybody! So i recently bought a 5.0 awd explorer. It has a loud popping sound that sounds like the axle, which was the first thing i fixed. The problem still occurs. I also replaced the wheel bearing (needed replaced) . The sound happens non stop and gets louder when i turn (which is why i thought it was the axle.) Somebody suggested its the front dif. Anybody had this problem and know what would cause this?

 

[PopRichie77]

You didn't say if you replaced both axles? Sounds like a bad axle CV joint or the front drive shaft U joint.

 

[Stazz75]

I only replaced the front drivers side axle cuz thats where i thought it was coming from.

 

[Stazz75]

Also i forgot this.. we put the truck on jacks so all four wheels were off the ground and put it in gear so we could get a better idea of where it was coming from and the noise was gone. But as soon as we took it off jack stands and drove it,the noise came back. Now if its a u joint, wouldnt it have made the popping sound whether it was on jack stands or not? We tried to pinpoint where it was coming from but it was hard with the vehicle moving (which is why we put it on jack stands in the first place). To me it sounded like it was coming from just outside the front of the transfer case. I am going to pull the front driveshaft out so i can drive it. But i want to get it fixed so i have 4wd for the winter.

 

[Jasonx521]

Is it your torsion bar mount, at the rear of the torsion bar under driver seat?
Is it your ball joints (upper or lower or both)?
Is it your upper or lower control arm bushings?

 

[Stazz75]

Im not even sure how to check the torsion bar or control arm bushings. I know the ball joints are good cuz we checked those when we first looked at it. Somebody else said its the transfer case itself. Is the transfer case a big issue on the AWD versions? The sound is coming from under the front seats. It didnt sound like it was coming from anywhere near the wheel hub. Im pretty sure its somewhere in the drive train..

 

[Stazz75]

Ok so we pulled the front drive shaft out and the sound went away..

 

[G.mike1470]

Same problem

I have the same problem, if you have found out what is wrong with the front differencial Please let me know.

 

[G.mike1470]

The loud popping noise is the Transfer case located behind the Transmission. its ether the Chain skipping gears or the Torque converter not working right inside the transfer case.

 

[clarkede1]

I know this thread is really old, but I'm having similar issues.

1998 Explorer XLT 5.0 (AWD) ~330,000mi
I've owned it the whole time and perform all maintenance on it.

I have two issues that may or may not be related. I thought the sounds were related and started changing things out one-by-one, but nothing is working.

First, a loud popping noise under the driver seat area when I turn left at slow speed (as in a u-turn). Even though it feels like it is under the frond driver's side seat, I suppose it could be anywhere in the front end suspension. It sounds "like" a gear tooth being skipped - very loud and distinct sound. It is NOT a repetitive chattering or clicking like bearings. The popping sound may occur several times during a u-turn.

Second, I've got a grinding noise in the front end like a bad bearing. The sound is mainly heard when under torque from accelerating, but when coasting sound goes away or is much quieter.

To attempt solving this, I've just replaced:
Both front CV axles.
Both front wheel hubs.
Front drive shaft.
Front differential.

Neither the popping nor the grinding sounds changed after replacing the parts listed.

Could grinding noise be the transfer case? The sound "seems" to be more in the front which is why I changed out all the front moving parts.

Could the popping noise be (1) one of the torsion bars, (2)Upper/lower ball joints, (3) Upper/lower control arms? I didn't notice any thing wrong with the ball joints or control arms when I changed out the CV axles, wheel hubs and front differential - each of which required same process over-and-over to remove and replace. Did I miss looking at something? How can I test each? I'm so frustrated, but convinced it's something fixable.

 

[clarkede1]

I might take out the front drive shaft and see if the grinding noise goes away, but I don't know if this would cause some transfer case issue. Any reason why I should not take out the front drive shaft?

I'm not as worried about the grinding noise, as it has been there for several thousand miles. The grinding noise is getting louder as time goes on, but the popping noise makes me more concerned that something will break or bind-up and leave me stranded.

 

[Turdle]

I might take out the front drive shaft and see if the grinding noise goes away, but I don't know if this would cause some transfer case issue. Any reason why I should not take out the front drive shaft?

I'm not as worried about the grinding noise, as it has been there for several thousand miles. The grinding noise is getting louder as time goes on, but the popping noise makes me more concerned that something will break or bind-up and leave me stranded.

Just be sure to chock the wheels, as the truck will move in park without the front driveshaft.

You might also change the transmission mount.

 

[clarkede1]

Just be sure to chock the wheels, as the truck will move in park without the front driveshaft.

You might also change the transmission mount.

Good tips. Thanks. I didn't think about the transmission mount. I will check that and the engine mounts just in case.

 

[2017PIU]

Noises can be tough to chase. My boy had an S10 blazer that was making a growling noise from directly under the center console. The trans fluid smelled fine, so I pulled and rebuilt the transfer case, which needs done. Upon reinstallation, same noise. Just for kicks I pulled the rear diff cover, the center section bearings were SHOT. Replaced them, noise gone. It has been telegraphing up the drive shaft. We'd spent hours crawling around inside, and hanging outside of the car and were CERTAIN it was coming from amidship.

 

[clarkede1]

Noises can be tough to chase. My boy had an S10 blazer that was making a growling noise from directly under the center console. The trans fluid smelled fine, so I pulled and rebuilt the transfer case, which needs done. Upon reinstallation, same noise. Just for kicks I pulled the rear diff cover, the center section bearings were SHOT. Replaced them, noise gone. It has been telegraphing up the drive shaft. We'd spent hours crawling around inside, and hanging outside of the car and were CERTAIN it was coming from amidship.

My father used to tell me two things... sounds can travel and be deceptive and so can fluid leaks!

I don't know if detaching the forward drive shaft would help with this or not. I suppose a rear differential could still telegraph the noise back up to the engine area, even without the front drive shaft attached. Ugh. I sometimes just wish things would break, because then you would know what is wrong.

 

[Turdle]

If the sound is t case related it should change without the front shaft,

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