Ford - Explorer :: 2005 XLT - Growling That Sounds Like Coming From Front Left Wheel
Feb 20, 2016
I have a 2005 Explorer XLT with the 4.0L V6 and AdvanceTrac.
I've had a worsening growl in the front end that sounds like it's coming from the front left wheel. I can feel it in the steering wheel, and the sound goes away when I turn the wheel right of center. Center (going straight) or leftward steering, and the noise comes right back.
I changed the wheel bearing today, and there is absolutely no change in symptoms. Turning the CV shaft back and forth by hand, something feels kind of "grindy." It is the same at any point along the shaft, which has me worried that the bad bearing is in the front differential.
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I have some pretty bad grinding/growling in the front of my 2005 Explorer XLT 4-door. It is ABSOLUTELY NOT a wheel bearing. The noise seems to be coming from the front left wheel, and you can feel it when turning the hub by hand. I've changed that hub twice now (took a chance that the first one was defective), but neither made any difference. Both were torqued to 184 FtLbs per spec.
I took the outboard end of the left front cv shaft out of the hub and turned it by hand, and something at the inboard end felt crunchy. So then I pulled the shaft out and checked it over, and both sets of splines and CV joints are good. Axle shaft bearing in the differential looks good too---rolls well and no visible damage to the rollers. I'm thinking that it's got to be something in the front differential like a carrier bearing. The odd thing is that when I drove it with my Chassis Ear tool hooked up underneath, the noise was picked up at the left front knuckle, with nothing really audible from three different points on the differential case. I'm stumped on this.
Is there any safe way to drive the vehicle with the front CV shafts pulled? I'd like to isolate the front diff to be sure it's the source of the noise.
The noise does quiet way down in right turns, but the FR hub bearing was pretty quiet with the Chassis Ear hooked up. The noise starts at 20mph and dissipates above 45mph. Not like what the bad bearings on my Escape did...those just kept getting louder.
Are these Explorers known for front diff weaknesses? How can I find out what gear ratio I have, in case I decide to replace the whole unit (a used one is half the price or less than the rebuild quote I was given by a local shop).
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I've been having a lot of noise coming from the front left tire, and I finally had it diagnosed as a bad wheel bearing today.
I noticed that the front wheel bearings are sold individually while the rear wheel bearings are sold as hub assemblies. Is there a certain way that the front wheel bearings have to be removed and pressed on? I'm trying to see if this is a DIY repair.
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When I turn LEFT at medium to low speeds I hear a "gravel-ly" grinding noise coming from the Right Front area. What could this be? Wheel bearings?
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2010 v6 4wd. I have some growling in my front end. I got the truck in the air and neither wheel has any wobble (to check the front wheel hub assembly). I got under the truck and disconnected the large plug going into the T/C. Still noisy.
This truck used to be so quiet, but a couple years ago I had uneven tires that caused the 4wd to be on a ton. I just replaced all 4 a few weeks ago and that did not change the noise.
Is it possible that a bearing is still the culprit even without wobble? I can weave right and left and cannot notice it getting better or worse.
Also noticing my gas mileage dipping over the years, I am down to low 18s/high 17s with somewhat highway miles (2 miles of my commute around 35mph and the other 18ish going around 55 with 1 or 2 stops).
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Front end has a growling noise. When pulling a load it is worse. When the front end has more weight the noise and vibration is less. When traveling dead straight now growl really but turn the wheel a fraction of an inch either left or and a growl vibration. Turns left or tight fully bring on the same hard growl. Steering pump is pumping fine. Either steering box or front wheel bearing is my guess. 2007 Explorer 4.6 ...
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Have an 06 2WD Explorer with 80,000mi and when driving down highway there is a bit of growling noise when any pressure is applied to the steering wheel. When driving straight not moving steering wheel its quite but when going around corner or curve tends to make noise. What I should be looking for? Brakes were replaced 10K miles ago. Ball joints or wheel bearings?
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1997 Limited SOHC auto.
I just replaced the transmission with a known good one from my XLT but the reverse doesn't work now and there is a loud banging coming from the front when I turn left or right.
It feels like the tyres are slipping on the road, like axle wind up. This happens in auto and 4wd high. What the banging is?
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Alright so I'm having a problem with my 2003 Ford Explorer. I've recently noticed that when I get to above 40 mph, if my steering wheel is straight, I hear a loud kind of grinding or humming sound coming from my left driver side front. If I am going about 65 mph, it gets even louder and if I crank the steering wheel to the left, that's when it really gets noisy but as soon as I crank it to the right, the problems gone. When I do hear the hummin sound, I can feel it in the steering wheel. I have replaced al of the tires and it didn't work. Also, the car slightly pulls me to the right.
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My wife just bought her first truck, a 2008 F150 about a month ago. We have been driving it around since then and love the truck. The only real problem that I have seemed to encounter on the truck is a squeak coming from the front left wheel area. I can hear it when I cut the steering wheel and when I hit a big bump/pothole in the road. My dad and I have looked into it and he thinks that it is probably the axle joint where it goes into the steering knuckle/spindle. If it is this axle joint, is there a way to service/grease it and go on, or will it just simply need a new axle shaft?
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My '02 has a growling noise only when I turn the wheel to the left. It doesn't seem to matter if it's turned slightly to the left or all the way, the noise is the same and you can feel it in the floor and wheel. If the wheel is straight or turned to the right, there isn't a noise at all. The growl is speed related and seems to be noticeable from 5mph and up. Does this sound like the typical power steering module when it's about to fail?
I took a video while driving to show the steering wheel, speedo and you could hear the growl as I turned the wheel, but I wasn't able to attach it to this message. I did get the PS error on the MFD 2 times in the last 2 weeks. What does the power steering module look like and how tough is it for a DIY'er to replace?
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So I went to the car wash this morning and when I pulled into the stall I heard a somewhat loud rattle coming from my front drivers side wheel. It sounded like there were a couple stones in the cap that covers the lug nuts. That wasn't the case. It did it in reverse also. Before I take it to the dealer Monday morning. Its a 2011 F-350 6.7 Lariat 4x4 w. 32,000 miles. I also have have a little whine coming from the rear when I take off from a standstill.
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Started about a month ago with a very infrequent squeaking coming from area of front left wheel. Has started getting more and more frequent to the point of being constant for about 10 minutes today, then just went away for the remaining 15 miles home. Front left hub was definitely warmer than the other one but not too hot to touch or anything. Start of a bearing issue or something to do with the auto locking hubs for the 4wd???
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I have developed a sounds that sounds like metal on metal. Not a grinding but more of a "swish swish swish" light metal rubbing when the truck has been running a mile or two. I can barely hear it over the radio but its very noticeable when the window is down. It is not affected by the pressing the brakes and it gets louder and faster in direct portion to speed. It will occasionally leave and start right back up. I touched the front rim around the hub and it was hotter than I wanted to hold onto. It didn't burn but it was hot. It was 105 degrees that day. Here is what I have done.
I replaced that front hub in 2010 and probably have 50K miles on it. I did the 3-9 test and there was no noticeable play. I spun the hub and while it seems to spin ok it does seem a little dry.... I will pull it tomorrow and see what it looks like.
I pulled the calipers off and the brakes pads are at half way and there is no burnt smell. I spun the rotor and it seemed flat and straight. I do have a small tiny lip all the way around them on both sides but I figured that's normal with 265K. I pulled the pins and they were dry but they didn't seem to be sticking. I cleaned them up with the boots and am going to replace them when I get some brake grease tomorrow. I have not looked real hard at the caliper but I plan on pressing that with a C-Clamp tomorrow to check it. Since the rotors and pads looked OK, I assumed there was not a stuck caliper although haven't ruled it out. The axle behind the hub seem to spin freely before I removed all this stuff and the hubs are not locked.
I think I covered it all .. I also thought it could be a rock or stick but nothing came out of my caliper or rotor when I took them off ..
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I'm looking at a 2004 F250 XLT super cab 4x4 with a 5.4L with only 50k on the clock. It looks to be in great shape and drives good with only a few issues. Cruise doesn't work, it pulls to the left a little, and it has a slight roar coming from the left front wheel. Other than that it seems to be a nice truck. Its blue and grey two tone. Anything else I need to look at before pulling the handle on this one?
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My 99 F250 has just recently started making a "rattling" noise. The noise sounds like its coming from the front left wheel area. The noise is constant while driving down the road, its NOT created by bumps or anything, its a constant noise while moving.
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I have a mystery noise coming from the left front wheel.
I have a 2002 Toyota Camry, 4 cylinder, SE Model, 150,000 miles
It sounds like metal on metal. It only happens at low speeds (less than 20mph). Only happens when I turn the steering wheel right. While I am driving straight, the noise is not there.
Here is what I have changed on my car in the last 3 months:
-New Brake rotors
-New Brake Pads
-New sway bar link
-New sway bar bushing
-New outer tie rod end
-New lower ball joint
More Observations:
-CV joint is not leaking
-Checked the struts for proper movement
-The strut seems properly seated in the bearing plated, nothing broken (under the hood)
-I confirmed that the disc brake shield is not in contact with anything
Am I missing anything? What else could be causing this?
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I just put on some new wheels and tires (19" VMR RS4 reps) and there is a weird clanking noise coming from the front left wheel when I am going around 10 mph. It doesn't happen when I'm moving faster, but I have checked it out and don't see anything rubbing or hitting any metal pieces. Could it be the suspension or something else? I haven't heard it around any of the other wheels.
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Ok at 40 mph and above I have a loud humming noise coming from my left front wheel. I replaced my rotor and pads due to normal wear. I also replaced the bearing. No fix. Tires were rotated a month ago. Could it be my CV joint? The boots are fine.
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I have an intermittent problem with vibrations coming from the front left wheel area. It vibrates my whole car to the point where I need to slow down to 30mph speeds. It usually occurs during extended periods of driving, but not always. When I am on the interstate driving and it happens, it works when I pull off to the shoulder and turn my wheel all the way to each direction multiple times. Is this an axle related problem? What other things should I look for?
One more thing to add. When this problem first started happening, I noticed that it would only happen when I was in gear and giving it gas. It would stop vibrating when I was coasting in neutral.
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I am hearing a weird knocking with every rotation of the left front wheel and I know it is not the cv joints. I replaced the wheel bearings on the car a week ago . I think it maybe the brakes have got loose and hitting the rotor or the wheel might be loose but I'm not really sure and it knocks faster with acceleration.
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