More noises!!

[4FordFamily]

I have a 1995 Explorer XLT with the stock 4.0 OHV in it.

I have a very high pitched chirping noise that happens every here and there.. It is repetitive chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp....happens around 25-50 mph it seems like.. I do not think it gets quicker as i accelerate. I can hear it louder when the windows are down and it's from the front end. Seeing as it happens when Im driving around those speeds, I cannot get out and listen to its origin.

And i hear a high pitched squeak like an air leak occasionally, seems like when I accelerate. Vaccum leak?

Any idea what would cause THESE noises?

 

[RammaR]

Is it 4wd? I had a very similar chirping sound in mine a few months ago and it turned out to be the centering ball in the front drive shaft's double cardan U-joint. Sounds more complicated to fix than it is really. If it is 4wd, then an easy way to check is to climb under the truck and manually turn the front drive shaft -- you should be able to hear a squeek / chirp. Its a crazy design but the front drive shaft always spins on at least the '95s and '96s - even in 2wd mode. The front dif is what engages and locks in the front wheels, so you still hear the chirping all the time you're moving.

Good luck.

 

[4FordFamily]

Yes, it is a 4wd

it doesn't make any more noise while turning...

(not sure if what i've said is even relevant to what you told me to do, Im not a mechanical guy really)

I mostly hear the noise when going around 40-50mph but have heard it while goin slower. Also, It seems to only be when Im goin in a straight line. Not sure though

 

[RammaR]

Ok, this is probably the same issue that I had then. It should happen when you're turning just the same, but that part doesn't really matter... what's making the chirping noise is most likely the front driveshaft. It runs from the transfer case (underneath the middle of the truck) to the front differential (which the front axle runs through). If you climb under the truck, with in park, in 2wd mode, and NOT running, you should be able to spin or turn the front driveshaft by hand. As it rotates you'll probably hear a grinding or chirping at the end near the transfer case. '95 and '96 explorers use what's called a double cardan u-joint at the transfer case end of the front driveshaft for more flexiblity. The OEM u-joints are greased for life - which doesn't seem to be the case on high-mileage explorers. In between the two u-joints is a little 'centering ball' that rides on the end of the driveshaft -- that's what was causing the problem with mine. Anyway, before making this too complicated... the fix is:

1.) first verify that its coming from the driveshaft. Just crawl underneeth the truck and try to turn the driveshaft by hand -- you don't have to do it very fast, but you should hear the rub / chirp if that's the culprit.

2.) if it is - then the best thing to do is replace the whole front driveshaft. Its held in place by 4 screws / bolts at each end (really easy to remove). When you remove it, mark one side of the transfer case & differential brackets (yolks) where you disconnect the driveshaft from. This is so that when you put it back in, you can keep the original orientation between them and everything stays in balance better.

Then take the whole assembly to autozone, or a local parts store. A remanufactured shaft should cost around $225 - $250, and they'll want your old one as a 'core'.

3.) re-install the new shaft with those 8 screws and you should be good to go. Make sure that marks you made on the transfer case & differential brackets are lined up, and you shouldn't have any odd vibrations and no more chirping.

Its probably one of the easier things you can repair because its just unbolting and replacing and will save you some money doing it yourself.

Good luck!

 

[4FordFamily]

How soon must this be done... is it something that I can wait a little while on? In the last week I've had my truck in the shop for new brakes, broken gas pedal (haha), tuneup, and idling problem, running me about 700$ And then now my alternator is half-assing on me so saturday it is scheduled to have another alternator put in.. who knows what that will run me... (mind you it's not a stock one, its a higher amperage alternator)

So i guess my question is how long till this noise will mess something up... or will it?

Any way i can grease it myself? WD40? I don't mean to rig everything but I'm only 20 years old I don't have the money to fix these darn fords every 10 minutes.

 

[RammaR]

Well, I'd climb under it and check to see that its really the source of the chirping. If it is, then its really not that big of a deal for awhile - just annoying. I drove mine for probably at least 6 months before I tracked down the chirping and resolved it. With it getting colder out, it'll probably chirp more because its missing the grease already. The other thing you can do is remove the front driveshaft all together. I had it off for about a week while I rebuilt the u-joints on mine and the truck will drive just fine. Then you just don't have 4wd and don't try to engage it - just leave it in 2wd mode. So its not a rush to fix -- IF that's the problem.

 

[Rhett]

Its a crazy design but the front drive shaft always spins on at least the '95s and '96s - even in 2wd mode.

It does??? that is ridiculous. Wow, just like it's AWD. Well, just another reason why I'm glad I have a 1st gen.

 

[wired_af]

I have the chirping also. I thought it was my front drive shaft so I removed it and drove without it (in 2wd BW mod). Didn't fix the problem, I checked the rear shaft joints with no luck.