Humming Noise
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Humming Noise
I have a 94 ranger 4x4 4.0L V6. Starting today I hear a humming noise from my front end. It's definitely the tires but I am not sure of the cause. I know the ball joints are fine and the linkage is tight. There is also a lot of wear on the inside of both the front tires. I recently changed my front rotors but I never changed the bearings. I did clean them and pack them with the proper grease using a grease packer and then the old fashioned way with my hands. I've looked at some other threads and they've mentioned the bearings being bad. How can I tell? They looked fine when I packed them. Why are my front tires wearing on the inside? I just want to get all the info possible before I take it somewhere. thanks.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 3
From: Belleville, Ontario
Assuming the alignment is correct, basic tread wear diagnosis would suggest bearings.
Put both of your hands on the top outer edge of the tire. Push inboard, pull outboard (remember "scrap the Caddy Clyde?) 10-20 times in a row. If there's slack in the bearings, you'll feel them "thumping" right through the tire.
If you're not sure that you feel the thumping, repeat the rocking but more vigorously, Clyde.
AL.
Put both of your hands on the top outer edge of the tire. Push inboard, pull outboard (remember "scrap the Caddy Clyde?) 10-20 times in a row. If there's slack in the bearings, you'll feel them "thumping" right through the tire.
If you're not sure that you feel the thumping, repeat the rocking but more vigorously, Clyde.
AL.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
The test for loose bearings is easy if you jack the tire off the ground. Provided the ball joints are in fact within acceptable wear limits, the tire wear is due to bearing issues or the front end being toed out.
Prior to packing the bearings and after cleaning, did you inspect each roller on all wear surfaces as well as the bearing race?
Prior to packing the bearings and after cleaning, did you inspect each roller on all wear surfaces as well as the bearing race?
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Sep 1, 2004 at 11:05 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 0
From: MARYLAND
BEARINGS!! I just had the same problem. The outter bearing on drives side was going bad. Pull the bearings out and look at them..they will be loose in their assembly..or they might have metal flakes on them. When you repack them..use a VERY GOOD wheel bearing grease..i used the Advance auto brand the first time around and it didn't hold up.
