HI GUYS. FIRST LET ME APOLIGIZE AS THIS I GOING TO BE A LITTLE VAGUE. OVER THE PAST MONTH OR SO MY WIFE AND I HAVE NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION OR...??? I DONT REALLY KNOW HOW TO BEST DESCIBE IT OTHER THAN A FEELING. THE TRUCK HAS DEVELOPED THIS FEELING THRU THE STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS. THE BEST WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT IS LIKE A BEARING GOING BAD?

IT IS FULL TIME AWD AND I AM ASSUMING IT IS AN AWD ISSUE. THE TRUCK HAS ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT. IT CAN BE FELT AT ALL SPEEDS. I ROTATED THE TIRES WITH NO CHANGE.

MY NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO GO THRU THE FRONT END, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, ETC. BUT I REALLY DONT THINK THE ISSUE IS IN THE STEERING. THE TRUCK DRIVES STRAGHT AND NO STEERING VIBRATION.

I AM JUSTWONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY COMMON ISSUES WITH THESE FULL TIME AWD EXPLORERS THAT MAYBE I SHOULD LOOK FOR?

THANKS, DAVE.

 

took it to church and out to lunch today and I wanted to add a couple things. it is definitely something that is rotational. in other words the sound increases in speed along with the increase in wheel speed. also if I throw the transmission in neutral the issue is still there. the best way to describe the noise would be a rubbing sound but the feel in the steering wheel and floor lead me to believe it is a drivetrain issue. either transfer case or front drive system, maybe a CV joint?

hoping for help....... thanks

 

Ended up being a wheel bearing, Looking at it now it was very obvious. I tend to over think things sometimes. Thanks for all the help tho.

Took it into the dealer with 59,800 miles on it. The wheel bearing was covered under the 60,000 mile powertrain along with leaking front axle seals.

hooray for me. even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

 

Glad you found the solution to the issue. Just watch the other side now. Occasionally touch the hub to see if it is hotter than the other side.

Sometimes there is a crackling sound at the hub as well.