CV joints or something else

Tiny
BABYBAITS
  • MEMBER
  • FORD EXPLORER
I just purchased a 1993 Ford Explorer. I first noticed that when I go 65 mph the car starts to vibrate. Any slower or faster there is no problem. Now the ABS light is on most of the time. Today when backing out of my driveway and I turned the wheel it kind of sounded like something was scraping against something else on the drivers side front tire. Then every time I made a very sharp left turn I would here that again. Also when I stopped there was this grinding noise. That only happened once. When my husband looked at the front brakes he noticed we definitely need brakes. Can all of this do to the need for new brakes. If you think its cv joints how can my husband tell if thats it. He pretty much is mechanically inclined on older model vehicles and never dealt with cv joints. Any help is very much appreciated.
Monday, March 12th, 2007 AT 10:22 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
THE_HYDROXIDE_CHILD
  • MEMBER
  • 82 POSTS
No expert but if it was ur cv joint it make a "poping" sound as people call it. I think it sounds more like a fast clicking sound. If its grinding or squeaking its prolly ur brakes.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2007 AT 8:44 AM
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
What you describe it is more the wheel bearings than the cv joint. The abs light would come on as the hub moves away from the sensor. Have your husband jack the vehicle, with the wheel up off the ground, grab both sides and try to wiggle it sideways and up and down. If there is play in the wheel it would be the wheel bearings, let me know what he finds out.
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2007 AT 9:13 AM
Tiny
GARYTH
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I've got the same problem on my 95 Windstar (150K). Can wheel bearings be changed by an individual who is reasonably experienced, or better to put in shop? Also, must both L and R be done together?
Gary Th
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2007 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
You don't have to do both sides at the same time. You can do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined a little. You have to have the vehicle jacked up and take off the wheel, remove the little hub that covers the nut for the wheel. Remove the carter pin and loosen the nut. You can then take the hub off the spindle, there is a seal on the inside of the hub remove it to gain access to the bearing, remove the bearing and check it, the race inside the hub should also be replaced. Pack the whee bearing with grease and reinstall. Sorry for being so late getting back to you but could not download the information I wanted to send to you.
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Saturday, March 17th, 2007 AT 8:51 AM
Tiny
GARYTH
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for the help. I ended up getting it done by a mechanic--$300. But at least it's behind me!
Thank you.
Garyth
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Saturday, March 17th, 2007 AT 10:24 AM
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
What was the outcome?
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Saturday, March 17th, 2007 AT 10:32 AM
Tiny
GARYTH
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I didn't give all the info, sorry. It was only one wheel bearing, but they also had to replace the "spindle" because I had damaged it by driving too long before doing the repair. I think I paid more than I should have, but at least it's done.
Again, thank you.
Garyth
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Saturday, March 17th, 2007 AT 12:52 PM

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