Front end noise

SOPHIE12

MEMBER
2009 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER
V6
AWD
AUTOMATIC
90,000 MILES

Getting front end thumping like noise especially at lower (twenty to forty) and more pronounced while driving on curves. Seemed to be driver side origin. Was diagnosed as wheel bearing and replaced assembly. Also rotated tires. However, noise persists. Own a second mountaineer and had bearings replaced but symptoms were constant whirring at sixty to sixty five plus and replacement fixed problem. Recommendation I am getting is to replace passenger side bearing but with no guarantee that will resolve problem.

7 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
12,992 POSTS

Does it sound like someone is hitting the floor right under your feet?
Does the noise get worse if you hit bumps with only one tire or the other?
My thought in most common order
Sway bar end link or bushing wear. As it flexes on curves it moves in the mounts and the links wear out fast.
Lower control arm bushing - age and exposure can loosen them up.
Bad ball joint

Could also be an upper strut mount but those should be easy to spot as the rubber generally will be cracked.

A bad hub normally will not make a thud unless it is really bad, like you jack it up and the tire drops from the wear, you normally hear the whirring of the bad bearings for a long time before they get that bad.

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Wednesday, September 13th, 2017 AT 11:29 PM

SOPHIE12

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4 POSTS

Steve, thank you for your reply. Yes your comments are helpful. Sound not a whirring as I experienced with my other Mountaineer which was eliminated when I replaced hubs. The thump, thump, thump first led me to tire issue but even after exam and rotation not resolved. Going to try for second opinion before I return to replace passenger side hub. Thank you.

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Thursday, September 14th, 2017 AT 7:16 AM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
12,992 POSTS

Is it a thump that is constant? I figured it was intermittent. If not try these questions.

Does it vary with speed?
Does lightly braking change it at all?
Do you feel anything in the brake pedal?
Do you feel it in the wheel or in the seat?

Check the front and rear drive shafts, it could be a binding U-Joint in one of them.
Also, check the front axles as a worn or binding inner joint could be causing it.

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Thursday, September 14th, 2017 AT 11:04 AM

SOPHIE12

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4 POSTS

Not constant more noticeable at lower speed and going left around curves. Braking no impact. Driving straight at higher speeds not noticeable. Thank you have appt to check again

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Sunday, September 17th, 2017 AT 4:19 PM

STEVE W.