Metalface
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- December 25, 2022
- Messages
- 175
- Reaction score
- 109
- City, State
- East Coast US
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1997 Explorer XLT
Yes, I already searched.
Posting this for my friend who has a 2 door 2000 Explorer. V6 SOHC factory 16s, no notable modifications to chassis at all.
So, it sounds like the rear end (at least thats what I thought at first) starts to rhythmically grind or flap at speeds above 15mph.
He has discovered, and I have discovered that:
It's definitely not the gears in the rear diff.
It sounds more like its coming from the mid-rear and more to the passenger (right) side. (((Maybe a flapping exhaust shield??)))
He notices it happens almost all the time if he takes a left turn (find this significant,)
And I had him speed up and slow down once the noise started. The rate of the flapping did not increase or decrease. Which leads me to believe it is not a driveline issue.
I haven't gone under and wiggled anything (he is a real rusher when it comes to favors... lol...) and I can get a sound clip if anyone is interested.
I can't really compare it much to my 4 door 97 because I feel like if it is something actually flapping underneath (sounds like a flap flap flap and every time it hits whatever its hitting like a scrape on metal sort of noise. Perhaps what you'd hear from a rusty exhaust shield on rusty exhaust pipe lol) it wouldn't be the same wind forces under mine or anything, so I've got no clue.
Is that a common issue with the 2 doors? Perhaps the wind gets under just right?
Or is it actually definitely a driveline issue?
It actually drives very pleasantly. No wild vibrations and the previous owner kept up with it. So I don't think its the rear axle per se especially because the rate of flap is almost always the exact same and doesn't seem to change with RPM.
Will post updates, even if nobody can give me/him a magic answer, these threads are useful for people Googling for advice and help
Edit: and noise is so consistent it really would lead you to believe that it is a spinning part, you know what I mean? I'm kind of stumped because I've never heard anything like that before.
Posting this for my friend who has a 2 door 2000 Explorer. V6 SOHC factory 16s, no notable modifications to chassis at all.
So, it sounds like the rear end (at least thats what I thought at first) starts to rhythmically grind or flap at speeds above 15mph.
He has discovered, and I have discovered that:
It's definitely not the gears in the rear diff.
It sounds more like its coming from the mid-rear and more to the passenger (right) side. (((Maybe a flapping exhaust shield??)))
He notices it happens almost all the time if he takes a left turn (find this significant,)
And I had him speed up and slow down once the noise started. The rate of the flapping did not increase or decrease. Which leads me to believe it is not a driveline issue.
I haven't gone under and wiggled anything (he is a real rusher when it comes to favors... lol...) and I can get a sound clip if anyone is interested.
I can't really compare it much to my 4 door 97 because I feel like if it is something actually flapping underneath (sounds like a flap flap flap and every time it hits whatever its hitting like a scrape on metal sort of noise. Perhaps what you'd hear from a rusty exhaust shield on rusty exhaust pipe lol) it wouldn't be the same wind forces under mine or anything, so I've got no clue.
Is that a common issue with the 2 doors? Perhaps the wind gets under just right?
Or is it actually definitely a driveline issue?
It actually drives very pleasantly. No wild vibrations and the previous owner kept up with it. So I don't think its the rear axle per se especially because the rate of flap is almost always the exact same and doesn't seem to change with RPM.
Will post updates, even if nobody can give me/him a magic answer, these threads are useful for people Googling for advice and help
Edit: and noise is so consistent it really would lead you to believe that it is a spinning part, you know what I mean? I'm kind of stumped because I've never heard anything like that before.
