On my 2003 expedition eddie bauer I decided to change the front hub today because it was making a humming noise while making right turns it got louder driving at highway speed. I bought a brand new hub from rock auto and installed it. quick easy job. after I drove the car for a test drive I notice the constant humming was gone. But I now have an intimate hum/ vibration which was very odd it would vibrate and Hum as if a motor was turned on and then it will go away. it was only on acceleration in two wheel drive if I turned it to 4 wheel drive it would not hum. Back to 2wd and the hum would start again. On for 2 seconds then off for 10 sec. does anybody know if by replacing the hub I could have damaged the vacuum four wheel drive or if the seal around the hub is bad will that cause the four-wheel-drive vacuum system to my function? Or any other ideas. 4wd seems to work well and the noise only started after replacing the old hub. I saw what appeared To be a rubber seal around the new hub. If that was damaged would that cause the vacuum system to malfunction? Any help would be great before I reinstall my old hub back in the car.

 

Do you have air suspension? If so, could it be the compressor you're hearing?

 

No air suspension. Didn't make the Noise for the first 110k miles.
4x4 works correctly..
Does anyone have experience with defective new hubs? What were the symptoms?

 

Update... after the new hub the truck sounds as though traction control is attempting to apply brakes. In 2WD I got the rear tires to spin on snow and the noise started even though the front wheels and truck were not moving at all. Does the 2003 expedition Eddie Bauer have traction control? I'm thinking the wheel speed sensor built into the hub might be bad?

 

Replaced d.s. hub and intermittent brrrrr noise went away. Seems as though the wheel sensor was bad on that one and kept activating the abs.
So now I'm back to square one. New hub on d.s but the original humming noise is still there. Gets louder when I turn right and lower on left turns. Rotated tires but didn't change anything. Verified 1/2 shafts are not engaged and transfer case in 2wd, front driveshaft spins free.
Humming Noise is loudest around 40 mph and causes a vibration in pedals and steering wheel... any other ideas?

 

Original ford hub removed and disposed.
Pro aftermarket hub defective.
Timken aftermarket hub installed and humming present the entire time.