Strange noises at highway speed

[Acrefoot]

Hello everyone. My Explorer has noise(s) like I've never heard before. At speeds above 60 MPH there is a popping, crackling, snapping kind of sound that I can hear on the left side to the rear as I am driving. Ford has checked this out and said there is nothijng wrong, loose, etc. Anyone have any ideas? The noise is loud enough that it must be something!
Thanks for your help.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! It could have a bad wheel bearing or a brake problem. Does your parking brake work?

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[Acrefoot]

Starnge noises in Explorer

Thanks for the suggestion but it's been making the noise since it was new and I've got 82,000 miles on it. It sounds just like a sheet of plastic is dangling and snapping in the wind outside the rear passenger area. Did the same thing with Michelin's and BF Goodrich, had the rear struts replaced at 73,000, other than that everything still original. It obviously isn't hurting anything but it's puzzling and annoying!

 

[StangMan68]

I've had the same issue with mine a couple of times, except on the driver's side. I have never been able to figure it out.

 

[midiout]

It could be a wind related sound. I read that the early Chevy Cavaliers had a weird noise when people drove around 55/60 mph. They traced it to the radio antenna, which was vibrating, causing the sound. That's why some antennas have a ridge . As high as the Ex is, you wonder about the plastic fenderwells, mud flaps, etc. ?

 

[Acrefoot]

Wind noise

Thanks! Now that you got me thinking I wonder if it could be the wind whipping around the luggage rack as well. I might unbolt them and take it for a run.

 

[midiout]

The last time I had some pipes wrapped in plastic on the roof rack, my daughter could hear the "whistle". We would close the sunroof to eliminate the noise somewhat. After the pipes were taken down, the "whistle"was gone.