Front end noise solved
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Front end noise solved
I posted about a front end noise I had, and got a few responses. Here is the solution to the problem. I had replaced 2 tires, and there was 1/4" diff. in tread (1/2" diameter) between the new ones up front and the old ones out back. The noise was the AWD trying to transfer power up to the front under acceleration and because the tires were rotating @ different speeds, and there was no need for it. It only happened under accel. so I suppose the throttle angle is taken as a variable in addition to the wheel speed.
I am miffed as to why the owners manual I have for my 2000 EB Expy made NO MENTION of this potentially harmful situation. It says to replace tires with the same size and that's it.
I figured it out based on what other car mfg's. say in their manuals for AWD vehicles. I asked the Ford dealer here in Colo. Spgs, and the sevice mgr. said they don't put it in there because it is confusing to people?!?!?! I dont' get it. They sure wouldn't pay to fix a problem that arose because of it I can guarantee!
Be warned all of my fellow Expy owners, and know that a Subaru owners manual from your sister-in-law is mandatory reading as a supplement!
Bonz.
I am miffed as to why the owners manual I have for my 2000 EB Expy made NO MENTION of this potentially harmful situation. It says to replace tires with the same size and that's it.
I figured it out based on what other car mfg's. say in their manuals for AWD vehicles. I asked the Ford dealer here in Colo. Spgs, and the sevice mgr. said they don't put it in there because it is confusing to people?!?!?! I dont' get it. They sure wouldn't pay to fix a problem that arose because of it I can guarantee!
Be warned all of my fellow Expy owners, and know that a Subaru owners manual from your sister-in-law is mandatory reading as a supplement!
Bonz.
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Same size means same size.
1/4" diameter difference is what I"ve seen stated in this forum as the maximum difference allowed by the various sensors in engine and brake systems. My manual was a little more specific as I recall: same size, type and tread pattern so the ABS system doesn't get confused, and of course it follows that the transfer case is getting orders based on the front to rear differences in rotational speed also.
1/4" diameter difference is what I"ve seen stated in this forum as the maximum difference allowed by the various sensors in engine and brake systems. My manual was a little more specific as I recall: same size, type and tread pattern so the ABS system doesn't get confused, and of course it follows that the transfer case is getting orders based on the front to rear differences in rotational speed also.
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Tire size/Front end noise
I have no doubt now that "same size means same size", however it would make sense to mention the 1/4" rule in the owners manual, because it makes no clear mention of tread depth, only that they are the same size which in my case in 265/70/R17.
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Re: Tire size/Front end noise
Originally posted by The Bonz
I have no doubt now that "same size means same size", however it would make sense to mention the 1/4" rule in the owners manual, because it makes no clear mention of tread depth, only that they are the same size which in my case in 265/70/R17.
I have no doubt now that "same size means same size", however it would make sense to mention the 1/4" rule in the owners manual, because it makes no clear mention of tread depth, only that they are the same size which in my case in 265/70/R17.
A. If you follow Ford's very rigorous (as well as costly and time-consuming) maintenance program at the dealership, no problem will go unnoticed (and no wallet will go unpilfered...)
B. Most people wouldn't understand this issue anyway. All they'd hear is ...blah blah blah....tires......AWD......damage.......blah blah and they'd assume that Ford's system is junky, and that Ford owes them everything. Unfortunately, that's how the public tends to act - an entity completely void of reason.
So, in conclusion, if you followed the strict maintenance program that Ford calls for, you wouldn't have had this problem. I'm not pointing fingers or anything, but that's what Ford would say if something had happened "Well Mr. Bonz, we have no record of you coming in for your scheduled maintenance - do you have receipts from authorized Ford maintenance facilities proving that you've been taking care of it? no? well I'm sorry then. Thank you for choosing Ford Motor Company."
Either way, you got it fixed, which is cool. Keep on those rotations and you'll be A-Ok
XXL
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Front end noise solved
Big Matt, Thanks for the reply. If I had owned the vehicle for it's first 60k I would not have inherited all the nit-pick things that I ended up with. The alignment was way out, even though the dealer said it was checked and adjusted before I bought it. That started the whole uneven wear deal. The tires scalloped big time on the inside rib, esp. the left front. I got the alignment set at a real shop, then rotated the tires to put the best up front, put the scalloped ones out back. The road noise was annoying with that wear pattern, and that is when the most un worthy 2 tire change took place. If you have read other threads and posts, I knew every other AWD vehicle I have read a manual on has all the warning stuff, so I *** U ME'd that if it was that serious a deal, that the Expy manual would be as specific and no so non-chalant.
Any how, if anyone worth their salt at Ford reads this, don't just assume we are going to be "confused" (as my dealer said it) about a specific caution. Know that we are smarter than the average guy and we take for face value what we are told and would expect a smart company to let us know when we may be doing something not so good.
END Of SUBJECT!
Any how, if anyone worth their salt at Ford reads this, don't just assume we are going to be "confused" (as my dealer said it) about a specific caution. Know that we are smarter than the average guy and we take for face value what we are told and would expect a smart company to let us know when we may be doing something not so good.
END Of SUBJECT!
