Hello again to everyone
I have a 99 Ford Explorer XLY 4WD auto. I have noticed a thumping sound from the left side of the car. The noise is there almost at any speed, but at higher speeds it disappears or I just can't hear it any more. But when I put on the brake it disappears, or when I turn either left or right it disappears. The noise is most evident when goin abot 5-10 MPH.
The brakes look good and the tireslook good too. I thought it might be a flat spot on one of the tires.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Good luck, I have been looking for 5 years to get rid of my noise.

 

I have a 99 XLT 4x4 that has a slight thump in the front drive train, too. Brakes look good, tires good. But I can't seem to pin the problem down to a speed or part. Checked my differential fluid today-its just fine. Thought it could be a CV joint, but it does not get louder in 4wd. I would think the drive power would make it worse. It could be that the hubs are locking in, but I don't know how I could tell if they are locked or not. Since "tc" has had the problem for 5 years, I will not tear anything down until it gets worse.

Dan

 

A thump that stops when the brakes are applied is normally from a pad that moves up and down or a loose caliper . It could also be a separation in one of the front tires, try rotating them to the rear.

 

I have had the same problem for 5 yrs also. What tires are you running? Mine did it, I replaced the tires and it went away for about a year and then the noise started back up. I have the wrangler rts on there now but I'm going to change to Revo's soon. Check you alignment also, my truck has way to much neg camber and the inside edge of the tires is really worn. I really think it has something to do witht he tires being that it went away for a year after I put a new set on.

 

I'm running Goodyears also, replacements for the Firestone recall. Ironically, my Firestones did not show signs of problems, but the dealer replaced them anyway and then one new Goodyear tire seperated while on a road trip--less than a 1000 miles on them. But the dealer wouldn't replace the Goodyear tire. I felt a strong pull to the left (front driver side tire) which told me something was wrong. Then it started to thump loud.

My Goodyears are getting old and slightly cracking so it is possible that it has started to seperate. I have never rotated the tires and they have worn very evenly side to side and front to back. Here in Las Vegas, I usually have to replaced tires because they dry out before I wear all the rubber off.

I will try moving the tires around and see if the sound follows.

 

Try swapping the rotors and see if that don't take care of the problem.

Yes, it sounds strange, but if work for me.

 

I final repaired what four dealers could not repair. The noise in my front end was being created by the AWD transfer case. After installing a junk yard transfer yesterday and testing it last night, the noise is gone. The dealer work on it for the past 5 years and charged my extended warranty over $8,000 to not repair the noise. After getting a refund from the last dealer I decided the noise could only be in the transfer case. I located a transfer case in Traverse City, MI with only 46,000 for $400. That was a fair deal, especially since it solve my noise problem.

Thanks for responding Tom Guertin

 

I have the same noise on my truck now i have a 99 mountaineer awd and replaced the transfer case in it last year due to a HUM sound on the highway, so now i have that thumping sound coming from the LEFT DRIVERS SIDE at a speed of 15-40 mph then i cant hear it, i have replaced the ball joints, stabalizer bar bushings, and front brakes and pads, the only other thing i could think of would be CV Joints or Wheel Bearings or possibly the rotors? Im stunned and im waiting for it to get louder to figure this stupid problem out!

 

Did you ever find the cause? I have the exact same issue with my Edge

 

Have you pulled the wheels and inspected the brake rotors, slide pins, dust shields, and things such as the ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings?

-Rod