Front left ratcheting sound.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: coventry
Front left ratcheting sound.
History.
2004 Explorer.
8 month old tires.
Just aligned and inspected today
New Front left hub assembly last week.
Brakes were done within the year and upon inspection looked good when I did the hub assembly.
Vehicle has a vibration/(high speed) ratcheting sound coming from the front left. It's more defined with increased speed and turning left.
The ratcheting sound is similar to the noise a gear might make when it's not fully engaged and the teeth are just touching another gear. Hope that makes sense. It's not really a grinding...
Vehicle emits no other sounds from any other location. Just the left front.
Any input on this guys?
2004 Explorer.
8 month old tires.
Just aligned and inspected today
New Front left hub assembly last week.
Brakes were done within the year and upon inspection looked good when I did the hub assembly.
Vehicle has a vibration/(high speed) ratcheting sound coming from the front left. It's more defined with increased speed and turning left.
The ratcheting sound is similar to the noise a gear might make when it's not fully engaged and the teeth are just touching another gear. Hope that makes sense. It's not really a grinding...
Vehicle emits no other sounds from any other location. Just the left front.
Any input on this guys?
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
maybe front left half shaft? sometimes when you replace stuff that was bad, it causes other things to go bad especially when it comes to the suspension. have you ever heard what bad half shafts sound like? sort of like ratcheting/loud clicking
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: coventry
Update - edit
Going on what someone else told me I decided to drive the truck myself.
Let me add.
The sound is more like the transfer case is running without lube. It has that gear to gear sound without the lube. Like a high speed zipper. Zzzzz......lol
When you drive the truck straight and turn left you hear the noise. When you turn anything from just lightly ot all the way to the right it disappears.
Thomabb, I replaced the entire hub assembly. What is there to misalign?
My installation on the hub assembly was 3 bolts and I used the axle nut to pull the splines through.
Is that a no-no?
Let me add.
The sound is more like the transfer case is running without lube. It has that gear to gear sound without the lube. Like a high speed zipper. Zzzzz......lol
When you drive the truck straight and turn left you hear the noise. When you turn anything from just lightly ot all the way to the right it disappears.
Thomabb, I replaced the entire hub assembly. What is there to misalign?
My installation on the hub assembly was 3 bolts and I used the axle nut to pull the splines through.
Is that a no-no?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: coventry
Maybe it will take a little more time. Maybe the case is screwed up now, or maybe it's not the case at all.
Truck is 4x4. I get no unusual symptoms when I engage it 4x4 and turn other than the usual front end tightness.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
now it sounds like a driveshaft issue. since it is 4x4 you have a front driveshaft, which is just below the drivers seat. maybe the end that goes into the transfer case is going bad? mine went out, made noises going straight and when turning left. rebuilt both sides and it works great.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: coventry
now it sounds like a driveshaft issue. since it is 4x4 you have a front driveshaft, which is just below the drivers seat. maybe the end that goes into the transfer case is going bad? mine went out, made noises going straight and when turning left. rebuilt both sides and it works great.
Trending Topics
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,405
Likes: 4
If the bearings inside the hub are not seated properly the stub shaft will not align correctly with the hub. This will cause the locking hub to not completely disengage, allowing for the teeth to brush up against each other. If the noise goes away when the hub is locked, your problem is there.
Did you see any wear on the stub shaft when you changed the hub? Did you reuse any bearings?
Did you see any wear on the stub shaft when you changed the hub? Did you reuse any bearings?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: coventry
I didn't see any unusual wear, however I changed the whole hub assembly which comes as a complete unit. There are no locking "hubs" on this explorer as you'd see on a cnventional 4x4 truck. It must lock a the case....not the hubs.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
I had '98 AWD 176k with similar sound and it sounded like left front wheel but it turned out to be the front drive shaft. At the transfer case end, it's a dome shaped thing. I couldn't figure how to rebuild it so I had DTS do it,$300.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
Same here mine was about 285 for both ends