Makes front end noise

Tiny
GDELFINO
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 FORD EXPLORER
While driving, car seems stuck to ground. Makes front drivers sound rumble. Was quieter before. Seems to pull to one side. Otherwise has great acceleration and high gas consumption
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Sunday, September 5th, 2010 AT 6:50 AM

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Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Hi there,

I would start with checking the wheel bearings, the rumble you describe could well be a failing wheel bearing, check out the video below it shows the job being done on a similar car

https://youtu.be/qOAyXfPo7Z0

mark (mhpautos)
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Sunday, September 5th, 2010 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
MMAGANA3244
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 FORD EXPLORER
  • 4.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
When I accelerate hard sometimes it makes a popping noise in front tire I don't know if it comes from the left or right I've changes the upper control arm, wheel bearing, cv axel on both sides but it still makes that popping noise it's a 2006 explorer please help
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I am assuming it is not engine noise and you are sure of that. Check the lower control arm bushings as well as ball joints.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALAINAC
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
My Explorer is making terrible noises when I go over speed bumps, or hit a bump in the road. I also think the handling/ride is rougher than it used to be. Currently, my dad is the only one to have worked on the vehicle. I think that the struts are bad, but he thinks is just the bushings. The noise is so bad, it's embarrassing to drive. Any ideas on what is making the noise?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Hi there,

Best you get this looked at by a mechanic ASAP, there are a lot of things that this could be and any bad noise in the steering or suspension can be very serious indeed, have this inspected now!

Mark (mhpautos)
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARIOB539
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100 MILES
Hear a constant rumbling noise coming from the front end when driving feel it in the steering wheel slightly when steer to left it goes away. When steer to the right it continues. Any suggestions?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
Wheel bearing. You can't go by sound to determine which one. You must run it in gear and jacked up, then listen with a stethoscope.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Make sure your wheel lugnuts are all tight.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARIOB539
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Wow- I have to change again? I changed them already 10 months old.I assume I will have to change the entire hub this time. Went to the auto store they said the sell the entire wheel hub assembly with bearing in them. Ok ill try it again. Someoen said to lift the front and shake the wheel. If it moves its the wheel bearing.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
If it shakes it was really bad a long time ago. Noisy and loose are not the same thing. The single biggest thing that ruins a new bearing is putting weight on it before the spindle nut is tight. To hold the wheel / axle from turning, some people install the wheel then set the tire on the ground to hold it when they tighten the nut. At that point the bearing was damaged. What works much better is sticking a punch in the cooling slots of the rotor to keep it from turning. The torque value is very high too, typically between 180 and 240 foot pounds. Don't rely on feel; use a click-type torque wrench. If you don't have to grunt when tightening the nut, it isn't tight enough.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
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Dont buy the chinese bearings.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOMSMOM07
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 68,000 MILES
While driving, my explorer makes a thud noise when I let off the gas. I receinty had the front seal replaced and thats when I started hearing the noise. My explorer makes that thud noise when I let off the gas similar to a flat tire noise, it also seems to slow my explorer down. Please help
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Make sure the bearings are properly adjusted. Also, make sure there are no shifted belts in the tires. You may want to rotate the tires to see if the sound changes to the rear.

Try that and let me know what you find.

Joe
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARIOB539
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Went to the part store in my area. Place has a good reputation for quality parts been here forever. They only sell the entire hub with bearings inside already. Should I just change them out?
Right side?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOMSMOM07
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I took my explorer to the ford dealership, and the shop guys said my auto4x4 is coming on when it shouldnt. They said its my transfer case. But I dont know if thats the case. Is there any other reason my auto4x4 will kick on?
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
Those complete assemblies cost more than the older pressed-in bearings but are much easier to replace. GM has always used the bolt-on assemblies. Chrysler started on a few models in '87; now they all use that style. Ford took a long time to totally switch over but I think that's all they use now.

On most of these with the bolt-on style, you absolutely can not tell which bearing is noisy even when it sounds like it is coming from a certain corner. You have to jack it up and run it in gear, then listen next to each one with a stethoscope.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SCORPIAN_112
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 61,000 MILES
I have a 2004 Ford Explorer with approx. 60K miles. It's a V8 4.6L with the 4W Auto, 4W High and 4W Low buttons on the dash. When turning from a stopped or slow start the front end rumbles, like the four wheel drive is sticking. Sometimes when I attempt to put it into 4W Low the indicator blinks several times. It doesn't feel like the front wheel bearings. What do you think? Other then that the vehicle drives great and I love the it. How much do you think I should expect to pay to fix it, just a ball park.

Thank
The Grocery Getter
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAYSTN62
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have similar problem with my 2002 v6 Explorer. I hope they answer me about it soon since I made a donation.I will share if they do.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE112243
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 104,000 MILES
Have a 04 ford explorer gettin a loud humming from front end replaced the front differential did both upper ball joints did front u joint and its still there the noise is loudest from 25 to 40 mph and does not change when turning idk about to lose it on this truck really is becoming a huge issue
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
Real common for the wheel bearing to make a noise like an airplane engine. The problem is on vehicles with bolt-on style hub assemblies, it is impossible to tell which one is noisy. It can sound like the noise is coming from the right side and still be the left one that is bad. The good news is if you replace the wrong one you can put the old one on the other side.

To tell or sure which one is noisy, raise the truck so all four tires are off the ground, then run it in gear and 4wd. Listen next to each bearing with a stethoscope. You'll be able to tell the difference between the one that sounds a little noisy and the other one that is REALLY noisy.

Caradiodoc
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 AT 6:10 PM (Merged)

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