wreckop
New Member
- Joined
- August 7, 2011
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Central New Hampshire
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2004 Ford Explorer XLT
We have an '04 Explorer XLT. In the past month we've replaced a front hub, front axle shaft, and a u-joint due to what we thought was a noise from the front end (a 'whoosh-whoosh' noise as the tires were rotating)...could only hear the noise when letting off the accelerator.
(I'm female btw...so I'm sorry if I don't get all this right..lol, my hubby is a diesel mechanic and has been doing this work himself).
After spending so much already, I decided to bring the explorer to a friends garage so he could take a look. He was stumped at only hearing the noise when slowing, so he put it on a lift and sat in it with it running while his other mechanics took a look. He took off the rear driveshaft and the noise went away. They don't believe it's the rear hubs/bearings. He mentioned it could possibly be the pinion.
So my hubby took the exp to my bil's and put it on his lift, used his stethoscope thing, and definitely heard the noise coming from the pinion area. There are no leaks. He checked the gear oil and it was full of metal flakes/particles - so he drained it and put new (synthetic) gear oil in. It still makes the noise.
Any ideas or similar experiences? Does it definitely sound like the ring & pinion, or could it maybe be a pinion seal or other related part?
I've been stuck staying in town all summer with 3 kids because of the issues with this thing...don't dare to hop on the highway and head toward the ocean or anything! Thanks for any response!
(I'm female btw...so I'm sorry if I don't get all this right..lol, my hubby is a diesel mechanic and has been doing this work himself).
After spending so much already, I decided to bring the explorer to a friends garage so he could take a look. He was stumped at only hearing the noise when slowing, so he put it on a lift and sat in it with it running while his other mechanics took a look. He took off the rear driveshaft and the noise went away. They don't believe it's the rear hubs/bearings. He mentioned it could possibly be the pinion.
So my hubby took the exp to my bil's and put it on his lift, used his stethoscope thing, and definitely heard the noise coming from the pinion area. There are no leaks. He checked the gear oil and it was full of metal flakes/particles - so he drained it and put new (synthetic) gear oil in. It still makes the noise.
Any ideas or similar experiences? Does it definitely sound like the ring & pinion, or could it maybe be a pinion seal or other related part?
I've been stuck staying in town all summer with 3 kids because of the issues with this thing...don't dare to hop on the highway and head toward the ocean or anything! Thanks for any response!