steering vibration, noise gets louder with speed

[mikeymercboy]

I think there's some air trapped in the steering on my 2001 Explorer. There's not really anything noticeable until the speed starts to increase and gets a bit loud when it's up around 70mph. The noise is like a loud hum and there's some vibration in the steering wheel. Also, it will alternate between the driver and passenger side. It only occurs obviously when I'm turning the wheel even just slightly. Let me add that at idle and low speed, I notice nothing at all no noise, nothing seems out of the ordinary.

 

[originalnitro]

Is your x showing sighs of tire wear? (cupped,wear on inside or outside edges.)

 

[mikeymercboy]

nope, has new tires since sept, last rotated in december excellent wear no signs of anything

 

[my pos mounty]

If you have excessive air in the power steering..the way to get it out is, open the power steering resevoir, have a helper turn the wheels all the way left, then all the way to the right.. Lock to lock..several times. Waych for air bubbles, add power steering fluid as needed. It may take up to 10 or 15 times to get it all out.
I do not know if that is your problem, but this couldn't hurt to try

EDIT: While your doing this, it wouldn't be a bad idea to clean the screen in the resevoir either. Just pull it out and clean as necessary.

 

[mikeymercboy]

yeah I've tried the wheel turning but being by myself I haven't been able to take a peek at the reservoir in the process. I don't recall seeing a screen in there but I'll take a peek at that too again. I wonder if this has anything to do with it, but back last March I changed the sparkplugs and I did turn the wheel some with the engine off so I could have a little extra room, you know the routine with that mess on the passenger side. after I got everything running I had to drive it and had some rough jerking for a couple drive cycles but then it went away. you think there's still some residual air then possibly or maybe something else? appreciate the help

 

[my pos mounty]

That is typically how the air gets in the system.....turning the wheels without the engine running. Again, I am not sure this is your problem, but like I said, it can't hurt anything. As far as what else your problem could be, It kinda sounds like it might be a hub, but then you say that the noise travels from one side to the other side, then back depending on which way you turn, and that rules it out.

When your at a stop, but rev the engine and hold it at ... say 2500 RPM, do you hear the noise? Or is the noise only present when actually moving?

 

[mikeymercboy]

it's funny, cause I only notice it when I'm moving. the faster I'm moving, the louder it is and stronger the vibration. it's funny too, the sound is coming from the near the wheel when it's occurring not where the pump is mounted. thanks for the advice so far

 

[my pos mounty]

List of the "could be's"

Could be something related to your front differential. (ie: bearings...checked your fluid level recently?)
Could be you hit the lottery and are losing both of your hub bearings
Could be a weird thing happening with your CV's
Could be sound from a dying front driveshaft is travelling depending on the forces applied to it
Could be just air in the system, but not likely just this alone as it would decrease in time
Could be a brake problem (ie: rotors, pads, claiper related)
Could be tire related (try moving fronts to rear...again)
Could be something as simple as loose lugnuts
Could be .......(others feel free to add on here)

 

[mikeymercboy]

well I don't have 4WD so I can rule out some of that

I'll check the lug nuts, hmmmm curious about the wheel bearings tho

 

[originalnitro]

have you checked the ball joints,tie rods

 

[mikeymercboy]

the ball joints were replaced in 2008 nitro, the tie rods I'll look into thanks. every little thing helps guys thanks

 

[ThePhoenix]

wheel bearings...thats the only thing that increases with speed. the alternating is due to weight being shifted. I had a rythmic hum for a while...then it became a whumping...

its like $7 per side to replace them. do innners and outers