The bearing noise is getting louder

[07gtman]

The bearings on the left side of my 05 Mountaineer are getting louder, How long is long enough to wait? Cant tell if its the front or rear. I think its both. Any in put would be appreciated. Anyone know which quality parts to buy i see too many, I don't want to do this twice.

 

[fordysenior]

I waited awhile when hearing my right rear bearing going bad -- then I had kind of a bang, so I pulled over on the freeway, and saw the tire was about ready to fall off. I live rural, so I was nowhere near any help. I slowly limped off the freeway and got to the repair shop. Better off to have repairs done on your schedule, instead of the broken down vehicles 'do now or else' schedule. Have someone drive the vehicle, lower your seats and climb around in back and listen to see which one it is, or is not (with the radio off). You also can jack up the front end, and spin the tires and pull and tug in all direction and see if you have any abnormal movement or sounds.

 

[07gtman]

i did that. No movement When i lifted the truck up. And tried to wiggle the tire. But on the sharper left turns. silence no noise at all.

 

[imp]

i did that. No movement When i lifted the truck up. And tried to wiggle the tire. But on the sharper left turns. silence no noise at all.

@07gtman
Wheel bearing noise, if front, can be isolated as to which side by driving at speed where sound is most noticeable, straight ahead, then abruptly moving steering wheel off-center. If noise increases turning towards left, right bearing bad, and vice versa. Turning shifts additional weight onto the bearings on the outside of the turn. Rears harder to pinpoint. Did that up on stands, use 4X4 HIGH, wife ran up to about 30mph in D while I stethoscoped hubs and center section. Here is the hub opened up, revealing the culprit. Took several thousand miles to reach this point, I was away from home, drove it back. Outer race of bearing. No way in hell could you feel play or grumbling in the bearing by hand, prying, turning, etc. If you could, yer close to the wheel maybe tucking under. imp

 

[07gtman]

What bearings did you put in. I dont want to buy cheap bearings, i know timkens are not what they used to be. Its freezing here in Chicago and i was hoping to wait till the weather breaks a little before i tackle this job. thanks again for replying.

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

i changed a RR wheel bearing on my parents 2005 about a year and a half ago.

I put in a national bearing i think i got it from Advance auto.

its a press in/press out style bearing, not a bolt on like the front so either make sure you have a press to use etc. or you can just take the hub assembly off and take it to a machine shop to get it press out and the new one back in. those bearings press out pretty hard.

I took mine into where i work and did it on huge hydraulic press and it made quite a bang when i was pressing it out.

 

[07gtman]

I have a 20 ton press..what i was hoping is to get through winter with this condition. there is no play in the the steering, the noise is getting quite loud though. i drive mostly on the highway about 175 miles a week. any type of left turn and the noise completely goes away.

 

[imp]

What bearings did you put in. I dont want to buy cheap bearings, i know timkens are not what they used to be. Its freezing here in Chicago and i was hoping to wait till the weather breaks a little before i tackle this job. thanks again for replying.

@07gtman
Well! Can you believe I was born and raised in Berwyn? Now I KNOW I gotta help somebody from hometown, if possible! The brng. pictured was a rear. About 2 years ago, I knew less then than now, but ordered 2 online, cheapest there, against all forum warnings. Did both. Still OK, ~ not sure, 30K? 6 months ago, left front, let it go a couple months, ordered cheap again, put it in. Month later, recalling the one guy's warning about torquing axle nut, too much kills bearing (since then I've decided it's not so), got front brng. noise again, but then, RIGHT front. Ordered Timken, double the price, installed, noise gone. 157K now. Original fronts lasted way over 100K. Rear, similar. FYI, rear harder to replace, hub knuckle has to come out. Bearings pressed into it. Fronts, sold as hub assembly containing bearings, and most with speed sensor, wheel lugs already in them, easier to accomlish than rear.

Back in Berwyn I had an old oil stove out in the garage, swung engines and transmissions -10 degrees! A real damn fool in my youth. I just tried to find a few pics, but failed, will look tomorrow. Whereabouts you located around Chi-town? imp

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

I have a 20 ton press..what i was hoping is to get through winter with this condition. there is no play in the the steering, the noise is getting quite loud though. i drive mostly on the highway about 175 miles a week. any type of left turn and the noise completely goes away.

sounds like its probably a front bearing then which are easier to replace. I changed the LF on the same explorer a few years ago and i put in a timken and haven't had a problem since.


I've also used Precision wheel bearings assemblies in a few other vehicles with no issues.

 

[07gtman]

About 3 miles east of O'hare, so i was right we are brothers. so what would be the worst case scenario, if i let these brngs roll till it warms up. im to old for this cold ****. 50 or 60 degrees i'm ok with. I worked outside for 25 years, i had enough cold for a lifetime. its my winter truck, my Mustang never rolled on salt, and its not going to this year either. Bottom line no cheap bearings, and don't torque axle nut to tight. Thanks again.

 

[TechGuru]

What bearings did you put in. I dont want to buy cheap bearings, i know timkens are not what they used to be. Its freezing here in Chicago and i was hoping to wait till the weather breaks a little before i tackle this job. thanks again for replying.

Don't use anything but SKF.

 

[imp]

sounds like its probably a front bearing then which are easier to replace. I changed the LF on the same explorer a few years ago and i put in a timken and haven't had a problem since.


I've also used Precision wheel bearings assemblies in a few other vehicles with no issues.

@Ford_Racing_Guy
Fronts are considerably easier than rears, which require a good press and supporting parts, as well as bushings of some sort to press on the right diameters. Difficulty with fronts is getting at the 3 bolts blocked by the CV joint. Plus, they are factory-lock-tited with some stuff incredibly strong. imp

 

[imp]

About 3 miles east of O'hare, so i was right we are brothers. so what would be the worst case scenario, if i let these brngs roll till it warms up. im to old for this cold ****. 50 or 60 degrees i'm ok with. I worked outside for 25 years, i had enough cold for a lifetime. its my winter truck, my Mustang never rolled on salt, and its not going to this year either. Bottom line no cheap bearings, and don't torque axle nut to tight. Thanks again.

@07gtmanbreak
Depends on several things. How much it's driven, obviously, then how bad is the damage right now, which can't be checked like on 2WD. These fronts are permanently assembled in the hubs. Eventually, the condition seen on the outer race in my pic will extend clear across the roller surface of the face. At that point, it will start damaging the rollers and go to hell real quick, crumble, and the wheel will hang ****-eyed if the damned hub doesn't break. Hate to have that happen on your Tri-State Tollway at -10 degrees! Then noise level tells a lot. Mine grumbled but not too loudly. Can't describe any better than that. We left our home in MO, drove to AZ, where I started hearing it. Drove all the way back noise and all, 2000 miles, by then it had gotten worse, but still not frighteningly loud, so I figgered I had lucked out, and bought 2 new bearings from NAPA. Expensive as hell.
I am in no position to give advice, but if it were me, I'd drive it and do so until the noise got scary-bad. All this is based on a bad wheel bearing, remember, are you sure it's not noise from the differential? Keep that Mustang out of the G.D.'nd salt, for sure. Good luck! imp

 

[07gtman]

Thanks to everyone who chimed in really appreciate all the advice.

 

[imp]

Thanks to everyone who chimed in really appreciate all the advice.

@07gtman
Please let me know how you make out, whether you drive it through till March or April, what happens. I keep track and add up the experience. I will PM you tomorrow with some things to make you smile, "brother". imp

 

[Ford_Racing_Guy]

@Ford_Racing_Guy
Fronts are considerably easier than rears, which require a good press and supporting parts, as well as bushings of some sort to press on the right diameters. Difficulty with fronts is getting at the 3 bolts blocked by the CV joint. Plus, they are factory-lock-tited with some stuff incredibly strong. imp

yeah access to air tools is nice, i think i might have also used a map/propane torch to heat the bolts up a bit, then hit them with my impact.

 

[ROBinGa]

There are a few good videos on YouTube for front hub that walk through entire process. Fordtechmakuloco has a good one. The other thing to watch about is your ABS sensor wire. Hang onto your original wire (don't cut it like Fordtechmakuloco video) and disconnect it from original hub as a spare. The wires in the replacements seem to be a weak link. Several posts on here discuss sensor wires. I had to revert back to my original sensor wire after repeated Trouble codes and never failed after that.

 

[07gtman]

There are a few good videos on YouTube for front hub that walk through entire process. Fordtechmakuloco has a good one. The other thing to watch about is your ABS sensor wire. Hang onto your original wire (don't cut it like Fordtechmakuloco video) and disconnect it from original hub as a spare. The wires in the replacements seem to be a weak link. Several posts on here discuss sensor wires. I had to revert back to my original sensor wire after repeated Trouble codes and never failed after that.

I watched a few good ones thanks.

 

[07gtman]

yeah access to air tools is nice, i think i might have also used a map/propane torch to heat the bolts up a bit, then hit them with my impact.

Yes i do have air tools, and map torch. i need to find that hub puller,ill buy one just to have on hand,my son has a 02 mountaineer (he took over from me when he turned 16 three years ago) so i most likely will be needing it again ..thanks again for all this good info.