Annoying Squeek

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Apr 25, 2012 | 10:58 AM

kwaskow

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Annoying Squeek

I can usually track these down, but this one is eluding me. It seems to be coming from the rear passenger side and really only bad when turning left or veering left at slow speeds.

Apr 25, 2012 | 11:43 AM

aquanaut20

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From: BC Canada

Find someone with a "ChassisEar", safest and quickest to isolate noises like this... Philip

Apr 25, 2012 | 12:21 PM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

A ChassisEar would definitely help here. Can you determine if the noise seems to be interior or exterior? What year and sub-model is your Explorer? I've seen quite a few Sport sub-models with loose (rusted) running boards.... I've also experienced that noises, especially interior noises, can easily telescope and sound like they're coming from a completely different area.

-Rod

Apr 25, 2012 | 01:42 PM

kwaskow

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I believe it is exterior and it is a 2003 Mountaineer V8 AWD

Apr 25, 2012 | 10:27 PM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

The noise may be a wheel bearing, I've read of quite a few folks replacing rear wheel bearings no the 2002 and newer.

-Rod

Apr 26, 2012 | 09:08 AM

kwaskow

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This seems more consistent with a suspension or body panel issue, the truck needs to be bouncing a bit for the squeek to occur

Apr 26, 2012 | 02:02 PM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

I have seen on several occasions a dry ball joint or outer tie rod end on older Fords get dry and squeak. All that I have seen were on the front, and the newest I encountered was a 1998 model year. My method for identifying which part was the culprit was to use a small pick to poke a small hole in the dust boot of one of the joints. Then I inserted the straw from an aerosol can of white lithium grease through the hole and gave it a squirt. Remove the straw from the hole and bounce the vehicle a few times. If the sound changed or vanished, I knew I found the right part. It never took more than a bounce or two to notice a change in sound once I found the noisy joint.

There's nothing saying the same couldn't/wouldn't apply to the rear ball joints in your Explorer, but also don't necessarily rule out that it could be coming from the front. A second person standing outside the truck may be able to more clearly identify at least which corner of the vehicle the noise is coming from.

-Rod