Need Help Quick!!!!

[JM03EXP]

My dad has an 02 explorer xlt with the auto 4 wheel drive. He has needed new wheel bearings for a couple months now. Recently it started making a terrible klunking noise in the front end. It almost sounds like the 4x4 is kickin in real hard. Since the wheel bearings and hubs are all in one assembly (I think), could this noise be a result of the bad wheel bearings? He needs it fixed fast, gotta go hunting this weekend.

 

[IZwack]

It could be the wheel bearings or something else.

But you might as well replace the wheel bearing now. If the clunking goes away, then the wheel bearings were obviously at fault. If not, then its something else.

 

[Heavymentill]

To diagnose which bearing it is drive slowly in circles in both direction. The wheel on the outside turns faster than the inside. When your turning right the left side will be faster and when your turning left the right side will be faster.

 

[JM03EXP]

The old man forgot to mention that the day before the x starting making this noise that he had gotten 2 new tires on the rear that were a different brand from the tires on the front. big no no. The tire salesman either forgot to mention or did not know that you can't do this on a newer 4 wheel drive. Swapped the front tires for two more new matching tires. So far, so good. Hasn't been driven but a few miles since then, but no noise. Still needs the wheel bearings though. I think he's hoping these ones last til after xmas. Thanks for the quick response.