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2003 Ford Explorer Whining Booming Noise When Slowing Down

Tiny
COTTON2009
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 98,000 MILES
Hi, yesterday, I went to Wal-Mart and got a pair of Dueler AVT 235/70 R16 tires. Upon driving home, everything was just fine until slowing down. Upon doing so, there is a booming and whining noise coming from underneath the car. When driving slow through town, everything is also fine. It only happens when accelerating above 45 MPH and then slowing down. While slowing down, it stops at about 15-20 MPH or so, then it disappears. A few days ago, the "check engine" light began flashing for a day or so and not it has stopped. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2009 AT 8:36 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
OK so you replaced only two tires? If so then you need to measure the other tires and see how much smaller they are compared to the new tires. This is why I have such a hard time with walmart having a shop they should not have replaced only two tires on an all wheel drive car. The other tires are not the same height anymore so you now have two new tires with more tread and two tires with less tread that may be causing the front and rear differential to be out of sync therefore causing noise. What end of the car did the new tires go on? As for the engine light what I would recommend is calling your local parts stores and see if one does a free scan and go have them scan it and write down the codes and then have them clear it and get back to me with the codes. Let me know about the tire situation too. Thanks.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2009 AT 10:18 AM
Tiny
COTTON2009
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  • 6 POSTS
The tires went on the rear of the vehicle. The rear tires had a lot of wear but the front ones looked ok. I replaced the rear tires with the same size tires, however, the tread seems more on the new tires than on the rear. Could this cause the thumping sound upon slowing down with the differentials being out of whack? I mean I can hear and feel the loud boom noise.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2009 AT 2:19 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
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Was it doing it before you replaced the tires?
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Friday, July 17th, 2009 AT 8:54 AM
Tiny
COTTON2009
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
No. It was not making the noise before putting on the new tires. I've also noticed that if I gradually let off of the accellerator from normal driving speed instead of just taking my foot off of the accellerator, it does not make the booming and whining noise. Does this make sense?
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Friday, July 31st, 2009 AT 9:19 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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  • 5,029 POSTS
OK if you would measure the tire diameter on the new and the old tires that are the truck let me know how much difference there is. Secondly what size is on the old tires? I see that the new are 235/70/R16's but no mention of what the other two are. Get back to me on that.
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Friday, July 31st, 2009 AT 10:07 AM
Tiny
COTTON2009
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
The tires that were replaced were the same size tire 235/70R16. However, the old ones were nearly bald. How would I go about measuring? Would I mark a place on the tire and pavement, then roll the tire one revolution and measure the distance between the two points? Would this work?
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Friday, July 31st, 2009 AT 10:26 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Yes actually that work the best as this will give us true rolling distance. So make the pavement and the tire so you know when it rolls a full rev and then measure the distance of each tire. Now this needs to be done in a straight line. Let me know how this goes. I have had a AWD vehicle do this when the tires were so worn that new tires would take 1/2 inch or more to travel a full rev over the old ones thats why I say it very important that car owners with AWD vehicles be informed.
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Saturday, August 1st, 2009 AT 8:40 AM
Tiny
COTTON2009
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Ok, I have measured the tire rotation on all 4 tires. It is so close, I can not even tell if any of them are off by even a quarter of an inch. EVERY tire measures exactly the same as far as I can see.
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
COTTON2009
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
By the way, the exact measurement is 88 inches all around.
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 AT 2:10 PM
Tiny
Z32ROYALE13
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Without specifically hearing it. It'd be tough to diagnose. Does it sound like metal on metal? If you're hearing a high pitched whining from the front or rear of the vehicle, my first guess would be your wheel bearings. If it's a deep whining from the center of the vehicle, I'd be thinking driveshaft. The "boom" however, if this happens only when your truck disengages from gear. That's a bit of a different animal. However, I hope that it is only tire placement being off.
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Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 AT 2:21 PM

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