Rear End Noise.... | Ford Explorer Forums

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Rear End Noise....

storlied

Explorer Addict
Joined
June 20, 2007
Messages
4,508
Reaction score
13
City, State
Anchorage, Alaska
Year, Model & Trim Level
98 5.0L V8 AWD XLT
It's like a scuff clank noise every time I'm moving... has nothing to do with brakes.. as far as I know.. I Did just replace the rotors and pads. But this noise didn't start until days later. I think I just noticed it only happens when the weight is pushed toward the driver's side... oh yeah.. forgot to mention that... it's coming from the driver's side rear wheel.......

My first guess is ... a wheel bearing???????????? I have no idea when it comes to this axle.. I've never had to mess with it.. I don't know how it's built.. I have a general idea.. but no actual experience with it. I don't know.. I need help.. this is getting annoying..

I've been wanting to go tear the brakes apart, clean them thoroughly and put them back together in hopes it would cure this... what's going on?......
 



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Have you looked at the parking brakes lately? I had a screeching from one of the rear wheels last summer - a chunk of the parking brake shoe liner broke off and was rattling around inside the drum.
 






It's not a rattling noise, it's a scuff/clank noise. But who knows.. I tried everything.. even driving with the E brake on.. no change... [E brake is toast anyways, has been for awhile....................... is it easy to replace?]


Idk man.... I'm gonna tear apart my brakes anyways.. we'll see..
 






Mine varied from rattling to grinding to squealing - the chunk of liner would bounce around and I guess get caught between the remaining liner and drum. The only hard part is getting the rear rotor off, if you haven't done it before - borrow a three-jaw puller and a big sledge hammer.
 






I made a discovery.. If I turn left while driving... (making the truck lean to the right) the noise stops.. but if I turn right.. the noise starts... I think this is a bearing issue.........
 






Check for play in the rear wheels - jack up the rear and see if you can move the wheels up and down or side to side. Changing the rear wheel bearings requires draining and opening the diff to pull the axle shafts. You have to pull the rear rotors as well, so might as well do that first and take a look at the parking brake gear before you open the differential and enjoy a gear-oil shower. Good luck!
 






You just replaced brake pads and rotors, the noise started just after that.

The first thing I would look at is indeed the brakes once again.

Check the splash shield on the back of the rotor, make sure it's not coming in contact with the rotor. Go over your work again.
 






Ya know... I had thought that.. I took a quick look at it.. but didn't see any damage. I haven't been able to take the brakes apart yet. It's damn cold out.. lol..

Anyways... would it even be brakes considering it has the same symptoms as a bad bearing? Arg.. how much would this cost to get done?
 






parking brakes suck, you have to remove the axle from whatever side your working on, that means removing the differential cover. pulling the cross pin the spider gears are on, its just stupid.
 






You don't have to remove the axle to service the parking brake, what are you talking about?
 






parking brakes are immediatly behind the axle shafts hub. they actually use the inside of the rear discs hub as the drum for the parking brake. if you dont slide the axle out you'll be basicaly working blind as the axles hub is right there nex to the pads. i did mine when i did bearing, seals, etc.. you wont have room to see where things go let alone get your fingers or a tool in there.
 






I did my parking brakes without pulling the axle shafts - it's a little tight, you need some long skinny pliers, but it's doable.
 






What noise does a bad bearing make in the rear? This noise sounds kinda light and hollow.. like it really could be the dust shield but I don't know....
 






just pulled my rear end apart cuz i had a wheel seal leaking and discovered that the previous owner had the limited slip disc in wrong and the right axle shaft would move 1 inch in and out. he had put frictions directly against the side gears and doubled up a set of steels agaisnt each other too.
 






Took brakes apart, nothing out of the ordinary. There is forward and backward play in the wheel.. just a little bit... and there is in and out play.. a bit more than the other wheel.

It's a damn bearing.. I'm pissed... How much is this going to cost?

jkfdghkdjgdjfhkdfl;

Lets see now, add that one... plus the damn driver's side front... and the passenger side cv axle!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH! Oh yeah.. plus I have to replace the front DS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT NEXT?! What comes next?

I fear the engine.................................................................................................................................................................................


Maybe I should just get a new truck........................................... Who knows.. anyways... How much is this gonna cost?
 






The bearings and gear oil are pretty cheap. If your axle shafts are junk (like mine) those are way expensive. I used the timken repair bearings instead of replacing the axle shafts. I think I spent less than $150 for the parts and fluid when I did this last summer.

That job is a big pain in the ***. Make sure you get a slide hammer and wheel bearing puller kit - you'll need them. Make sure you read about the cross pin bolt - some folks here have reported breaking it, which is a major problem.
 






I wouldn't be doing it myself, I have no garage.. and there's no way in hell I'm doing it at sub zero temps.....
 






The problem with an axle bearing failure is it usually takes the axle too. However, there are some "problem solver" bearings available that move the bearing surface on the axle and give you a brand new wear surface. Make sure they check that out prior to buying axles.
 






I found an Explorer in the junk yard with 4.10's... How much would it cost to get both axles? I could put the rear in, how much would a shop charge for the front?
 



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I still to this day haven't found the cause for this noise, brakes are good.. there's no wobbling of the wheel or anything... no marks on Anything as far as rubbing goes.. I am at a loss here.
 






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