Osilating "thruming" noise in turns.

[KJRiley]

Hey folks,
2007 Explorer with 144,000 miles.
It developed an quite oscillating thrumming while in turns and I wasn't able to figure out what was causing it. It's not loud and I felt a little, very little, vibration through the steering wheel as I moved it off-center for the turns.
So, parts replaced,
Wheel bearing assemblies
Both CV Axles
New tires.
That didn't eliminate it but I bearly feel any vibration in the steering wheel.
The shop I go to checked it out before we put on the new tires and didn't find anything obvious.These are good telented folks and I trust them.
So, Thoughts?

 

[07EddyB]

Did you replace all the bearings or just the front?

 

[KJRiley]

The front. The rears are fine an the noise is only coming from the front and I feel that small vibration in the steering wheel. I hesitate to call it a vibration as the aplitude is so low.
There is no noise coming from the rear.

 

[07EddyB]

Don't be so sure. My worst rear bearing sounded like it was coming from the front and I had a vibration in the steering wheel. It seemed to be a right side bearing although the noise did not increase very much during a turn. Since my fronts were relatively new, I bit the bullet and replaced the right rear. Took care of the problem completely.
If you have 144K and they have never been replaced then they need to be replaced.

 

[Littleant]

What 07EddyB said. Noise and vibration can travel back to front.

 

[KJRiley]

My shop checked the rears and found them fine. I'll have them look again.

 

[dacaur2]

my explorer had a bearing roar when I bought it, but I couldnt determine which was bad, so waiting till I saw abnormal tire wear. Replaced driver front, and the noise was cut in half. 5k miles later I replaced the passenger front and the noise was almost completly gone.... A few thousand miles later my rear diff went out, after replacing that the only noise is tire hum..... so yea, check your diffs.