Rear end noise

[G-man]

I have a 2002 Explorer 4X4 I recently started to hear a low pitch noise while traveling on the highway it is most noticable around 60 miles and hour. If I remove my foot and start to coast the noise is gone as soon as I start to excelerate the noise is back. Its hard to determine if the noise is coming from the tries or the rear end, there is no vibration or shim ay any speed any suggestion?

Thanks
G-Man :exp:

 

[grumpy]

Welcome to the club. If it was the tires, then letting off the gas wouldn't make any difference. More then likely you have the same differential problem that every other 2002 owner has had to deal with.

Mine howls so bad that I've quit trying to listen to the radio while driving.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Yup, differential bearings. I know exatly what noise your talking about. Try to get it back to the dealer if it's still under warranty

-Drew

 

[gtmud]

Rear end noise!

Hey, I just had my 02 in the dealer for the same problem, here to find out there is a Technical Service Bullettin out from Ford, at 69K the dealer rebuilt the rear end free of ANY charge. Hope you all have the same luck. If your wondering if there is anything else go to mycarstats.com, register and find all the info you ever wanted to know about recalls, TSB, complaints. :fire:

 

[02mountaineerv8]

Is it true that the rear end problems are mostly with the 3.75 rear end, and not the 3.55? Also I hear V-6 engines are also a factor on this rear end problem and not v-8's? how true is this?

 

[grumpy]

I have the 3.55 and mine whines.

 

[tex599]

3.73 Rear

I have the 3.73 and no whine

 

[jrford]

I have the 3.55 V-8. No whine

 

[02mountaineerv8]

Guys with the whine....what type of engine do you have? V-6 or V-8?

right now I have an 02 Mountaineer with now 43K on it. So far no whine at all, do you think I might be lucky and not get it with this milage already on it? or do you think if I would have had a problem with the rear end it might have already happend before 43k??

The rear end stories scare the hell out of me

 

[grumpy]

Mine is an '02 two wheel drive XLT with the v-6 and 3.55 rear. 74,000 miles and it's been whining since about 36,001 miles. Pretty loud around 60 mph.

I had leaking axle seals replaced last april and they started again last month. No cost to fix them the second time, (12 month warranty on the work) but I am assuming there's a problem about to show up regarding the recurring seal leak.

 

[kansaslimited]

I have an 02 V8 Tow Package, the whine on mine didnt start until about 60K.

Has anybody had the bearings repaired at a dealership OUT of warranty? I would be interested in the cost of getting it fixed. I can live with mine, but would love quite again.

 

[keith h]

I have the V-8 with towing package. Differential was bad at 25k and fixed under warranty. Also the rear wheel bearings were bad and fixed.

 

[daveleeander]

'02 Explorer XLT

My '02 with the 4.0 started howling at 65K. I now have 88k on it. Am doing a valve body replacement (rev/drive delay) soon. Have already replaced the rear differential seals once, the ABS rear sensor, one rear hub (pass. side), WD-40'd the doors (door ajar). I drive it about 40k per year.

Dave

 

[EricM]

I have an 02 V8 Tow Package, the whine on mine didnt start until about 60K.

Ditto.

Has anybody had the bearings repaired at a dealership OUT of warranty? I would be interested in the cost of getting it fixed.

They replaced clutch pack, bearings, seals in mine. Ford supplied the parts and they split the labor with me. I think it was around $250. About a week later, same damn noise. The service manager swore that they'd done it a bunch of times, and their tech knew exactly how to fix it too.

Does anybody know what the consequences will be if I just keep driving it? Does it just get more noisy, or will a bearing finally seize or something?

 

[grumpy]

The ford dealer charged me $300 to replace my axle seals. I think I was ripped off, but haven't heard anyone else say what they paid.

At least I got a 12 month warranty on the work and they replaced them for free 7 months later.

 

[kansaslimited]

Hey EricM, I noticed you are from KC, me too. Which dealership did you get your ex repaired at for only $250? I will have to pay them a visit.

 

[Dennis94XLT]

My 1994 Explorer 2 wheel drive with V6 had this same problem. It had a Limited Slip differential and Ford charged 1800.00 to rebuild it (it took them 5 times - first making it worse, then even worse, then the same - then they fixed it) and after 10k miles it came back. I then read a section in the 1994 owner's manual saying that ford considered it normal behavioir for that rear axle (3.73 Limited Slip) so I gave up and learned to live with it. I just got a 2005 4X4 V6 with what is called a non-limited slip 3.73 rear axle and so far at 10600 miles - no whine at all but I wouldn't be surprised if I hear it again one day. One thing I noticed that was strange and may be of help to everyone is this: When I took it to Ford, the guy couldn't hear he noise I was talking about at all so I told him to drive it and I sat in the back seat - and I couldn't hear it either. I found I could only hear it when I was in the front. That made me wonder if there might be a way to deaden the noise by adding sound proofing to the truck under the carpet. I never did anything about it though. I'm real disappointed to find that this same problem still exists in trucks nearly 10 years newer... Ford are you listening?

 

[EricM]

Hey EricM, I noticed you are from KC, me too. Which dealership did you get your ex repaired at for only $250? I will have to pay them a visit.

Extreme Ford - 135th and Metcalf. Brad Kirkland was the service guy.

But like I said, the repair didn't actually repair it.

 

[XERRI]

I have an o2 explorer and i actually had the problem fixed. It was the crown and pinion. Had it fixed three month ago and never heard it again.

 

[Mike02]

And the stories go on and on. I have on 02 and the noise was realy bad at about 60mph. Had the dealer replace wheel bearings and rebuild rear end at 58K.

I now have about 69K and guess what!!! Whine and noise is BACK. Go figure..
I have the 4.0 v6