Moaning grinding front end 97 X

[jackndelphine]

I just picked up a 97 explorer sport for 300 bucks, and its in pretty decent shape, I had to put some stuff into it, but its got 160k on it and seems to have been taken care of. The only problem I have is that is moans like you wouldnt beleive from the front end. I checked the hub bearings and they didnt have any play in them, I checked the U joints and they are tight, all fluids are fine, including transfer case. The only thing I did notice is that the passangers side of the differential where the CV joint goes into the housing, there is some up and down and side to side motion on it, and some grease around that area. The other side doesnt have that motion and no grease on the outside of the housing. Could that outter bearing be shot and that is what is causing my groaning noise, also I cheked the t case where the front driveshaft hooks up and there is up and down play there too, is it supposed to be like that or could that be playing a part in the noise? Basically anytime the truck is rolling whether under acceleration or not, there is a groaning noise, even at low speeds. There is also a clunk that seems to come from the back of the truck after I come to a complete stop, it sounds like something is shifting in the back, anybody have any Ideas??? Any help would be a ppreciatted

Thanks in advance, Jack

 

[jackndelphine]

Here, let me answer all of my own questions, just in case any others out there have the same problems, first the biggie, the hub assembly, after taking the wheel, caliper, and rotor off, and checking for play in the hub assembly, and also checking with the wheel on as well, I pulled the CV joint out of the assembly and found that the bearing was shot because when I spun it, it groaned and crackled and also spun forever with little to no resistance. SO........ Contrary to most of the posts I have read on here, just because you don't have play in the front hub assembly, does NOT mean that the hub bearing is good, to be sure you have to get that hub to freespin, I am not going into the details on that because that is probably already covered in another post, on hub replacement. So, then I also found the clunk when I stop, that was the slip yoke on the rear driveshaft, and that was about it, now the truck runs great, smooth and quiet, so I am happy, anyway, I just figured I would post my findings so I could try and help some other guys out there who are having some of the same issues I was having.