Road noise all of a sudden!

[llwta76]

Hi! I'm a new member and wonder if someone can help me w/a problem. I have a 2002 4 wheel drive Explorer w/ about 40000 mi. It seems that all of a sudden what sounds like tire noise( a hum) appeared some time ago. This noise increases w/ tire speed. The noise also seems to diminish when turning to the right. It sure sounds like the tires but I visually can't find anything wrong w/ them. Then it occurred to me that maybe the 4 wheel drive is locked in. I won't swear to it but the hum seems to be coming more from the rear than the front lately. Has anyone had this before . Your help would be gratefully appreciated! Thanks to you guys. Larry

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! It could be coming from the rear differential or one tire could have a shifted belt. Rotate the tires to see if the sound changes.

 

[PhotoByFriend]

I had a humming at 40 mph and that was constant up to 65. I narrowed it down to a wheel bearing in the rear because if I swerved and transferred the weight off either wheel, the hum would disappear. I replaced the bearing and that did it.

 

[dorman68]

Sounds like a rear wheel bearing. I helped my neighbor out on one of these.