Help diagnosing strange noise
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From: Jefferson City
Help diagnosing strange noise
’02 Ranger, 4x4, Off-Road, 5-speed, 68,000 miles<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
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So about 2 weeks ago I had the front brakes and lower ball joints replaced on my truck (both sides for both). And I noticed this noise even before this work was done but the noise wasn’t as loud/bad as it is now. So it’s gotten worse in a short time. The guy that did that work for me also checked my back brakes and said they had about ¼ left on them (so they need to be replaced soon too). But the noise is like a grinding and I hear it when I’m slowing down to a stop. And I still hear it if I let me foot off the brakes. I’m not sure if it’s coming from the front or the back of the truck but it seems to be from the front. Also it seems as though it’s with the movement of the tires…like a rolling. It’s probably noticeable at higher speeds too but with the road/tire noise I can’t really hear it. I’m guessing that either the back brakes might be causing this (probably not since I hear it when I let off the brakes) or maybe I have a wheel bearing that’s bad. Any thoughts on what else it might be? I’m going to jack the truck up and grab the wheels to see if there’s any play in them over the weekend.
Thank your for your responses.
fficeffice" /><o></o>So about 2 weeks ago I had the front brakes and lower ball joints replaced on my truck (both sides for both). And I noticed this noise even before this work was done but the noise wasn’t as loud/bad as it is now. So it’s gotten worse in a short time. The guy that did that work for me also checked my back brakes and said they had about ¼ left on them (so they need to be replaced soon too). But the noise is like a grinding and I hear it when I’m slowing down to a stop. And I still hear it if I let me foot off the brakes. I’m not sure if it’s coming from the front or the back of the truck but it seems to be from the front. Also it seems as though it’s with the movement of the tires…like a rolling. It’s probably noticeable at higher speeds too but with the road/tire noise I can’t really hear it. I’m guessing that either the back brakes might be causing this (probably not since I hear it when I let off the brakes) or maybe I have a wheel bearing that’s bad. Any thoughts on what else it might be? I’m going to jack the truck up and grab the wheels to see if there’s any play in them over the weekend.
Thank your for your responses.
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From: Jefferson City
So I figured out what was causing alot of the strange noise on my truck. Pulled the plug on the diff and the fluid came out looking like coffee w/creamer. Not good! So there's been moisture getting in. Looked at the vent/breather tube and it was clogged so the moisture could not get out. Changed the fluid to get the old "coffee w/creamer" out and the noise is still there a little bit but not nearly as bad. Think that fluid running in there could've shot the wheel bearings or maybe it'll just take some time for the good fluid to do it's job?
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From: Jefferson City
So I decided to just take the truck into a mechanic instead of tackling it by myself. Long story short the carrier bearing inside the diff was
pretty much toast. So he's replacing all the bearings inside the diff and the axle bearings/seals. Not once have I backed into
water etc. w/my truck but I guess the plugged up vent/breather tube did it in. Of course I was a little lax on checking the fluid but it was changed
around 20,000 and now at 70,000 the fluid was toast and that toasted that bearing. I feel like I do more maintenance than alot of other people (some none at all) on my vehicles but...lesson learned on checking that fluid.
pretty much toast. So he's replacing all the bearings inside the diff and the axle bearings/seals. Not once have I backed into
water etc. w/my truck but I guess the plugged up vent/breather tube did it in. Of course I was a little lax on checking the fluid but it was changed
around 20,000 and now at 70,000 the fluid was toast and that toasted that bearing. I feel like I do more maintenance than alot of other people (some none at all) on my vehicles but...lesson learned on checking that fluid.
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From: Jefferson City
Thanks 97ranger xlt, he did. Got both carrier bearings, inner and outer pinion bearings..seals etc. And both axle bearings and seals. Brand new rear end. 
Still at a loss as to how the fluid got toasted so much because I was not in any water. Maybe it just breaks down over time but I just don't know how. Used Mobil 1 the last time it was changed. Still pointing to the clogged vent breather tube. Oh well. I'm going to make sure to keep a good eye on the fluid this time around.
Still at a loss as to how the fluid got toasted so much because I was not in any water. Maybe it just breaks down over time but I just don't know how. Used Mobil 1 the last time it was changed. Still pointing to the clogged vent breather tube. Oh well. I'm going to make sure to keep a good eye on the fluid this time around.
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Laughing Gas
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From: So. Cal.
Thanks for the updates. It helps other people with their own problems.
I assume that you checked & cleaned the vent tubes by now? Here in So.Cal. there is a species of wasp (mud dauber, I think) that likes to build a nest in my vent tubes. I have to look at mine periodically.
You don't have to immerse the diff to get water in there. If the tube end is located somewhere that water can splash in, that would do it.
I assume that you checked & cleaned the vent tubes by now? Here in So.Cal. there is a species of wasp (mud dauber, I think) that likes to build a nest in my vent tubes. I have to look at mine periodically.
You don't have to immerse the diff to get water in there. If the tube end is located somewhere that water can splash in, that would do it.
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From: Jefferson City
Yes vent tube has been cleaned out. That happened when trying to see if just changing the diff fluid would fix my issues and it of course didn't. I'll have to make sure and check that tube pretty regularly. I've heard of mud dauber's getting in there and clogging it up too.
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From: Jefferson City
The vent tube is on the rear axle. On my '02 its on the drivers side of the axle. There's a hose that fits over a nipple (for lack of a better term) in the axle and runs up to a valve on the other end of the hose that attached near the gas tank. The valve is what's supposed to let the moisture out w/out letting bugs dirt etc. in. Took the hose off the axle and could tell just by looking in there it was clogged. Used an air hose to blow all the junk out of the hose.
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