So here is the deal, as the title states I have a humming/ howling noise in the front end, gets louder when I turn left and quiet when turning right. I have replaced both side hub/bearings, and upon inspection I had a broke quick strut on the right hand side, also replaced that along with sway bar link. I've rotated tires, checked pressure and tread is all good. I'm out of ideas right now on what this could be. Any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

Welcome to the forum!

What do you mean by "quick strut"? I'm expecting that to be a strut/spring/bearing plate assembly, but that wouldn't apply to the Explorer, unless maybe you have a 2WD truck.

Are you absolutely sure the noise is from the front? Could it maybe be a rear hub bearing and just sounds like it's in the front?

The following would only apply if you have a 4WD/AWD Explorer. Does the noise change if you accelerate during the turn? If 4WD, engage the 4WD and accelerate during the turn to see if the noise changes. If on dry pavement and the noise doesn't change, that could suggest that the 4WD system is not working properly and either is staying engaged all the time, or failing to engage (separate issue from what you're trying to solve here).

-Rod

 

Thank you!
The quick strut is something you can buy as an assembly and they are the same for 2wd and 4wd. I just had a broken spring so I had to buy a new assembly. The sound is identical to a wheel bearing and I can feel it through the floor and pedals up front while driving. Only thing left to rule out is maybe an alignment, rear bearings and diff bearings/seals...... Thank you for your help rod. I'm in c.r if you have any free time to here it!

 

I might be able to take a listen to it sometime later this week. Feeling it in the pedals seems suspicious unless the bearing is REALLY bad. Do you notice it at all in the steering wheel?

-Rod

 

No nothing in the steering wheel.

 

If you're feeling it in the floor and pedals, but not in the steering wheel, it seems unlikely that the issue is in the front.

-Rod