Front end grinding noise
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 73
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From: Baltimore, MD
Front end grinding noise
Hey guys, been a while since I posted. Got rid of the expedition (major POS) and the explorer has been great. Until now.
It's making a grinding sound while driving (mainly slow speed). Sounds like it's coming from the front end (guessing wheel bearings). It tracks fine on the highway, no play in the steering wheel and no play in the wheels when jacked up. Hub assembly is $150 (not horrible) while I'm doing that, I'll do the axle shafts too ($35 each). But I don't want to do all this and have it be the tie rod ends. Any definitive way to tell exactly what's bad here?
Thanks
Eric
It's making a grinding sound while driving (mainly slow speed). Sounds like it's coming from the front end (guessing wheel bearings). It tracks fine on the highway, no play in the steering wheel and no play in the wheels when jacked up. Hub assembly is $150 (not horrible) while I'm doing that, I'll do the axle shafts too ($35 each). But I don't want to do all this and have it be the tie rod ends. Any definitive way to tell exactly what's bad here?
Thanks
Eric
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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Does the sound go away when you apply the brakes? If it does, check your pads - you probably have badly worn pads on one or both sides. If just one side is worn and the other side is OK, dollars to donuts you have a stuck caliper. That happened to my '96 once, and it caused the same sound you described.
I replaced my hub & bearing assemblies recently. Only one was bad, but I decided to change both of them. The bad one didn't make a grinding sound, however. It started humming at about 35 mph and got louder as road speed increased. But I suppose that it could make a grinding sound too....don't know for sure.
Lift the front end and inspect the pads, even if the noise doesn't go away when you hit the brakes. If they're OK, spin the wheel by hand and listen for the sound. If you hear it, make sure that something isn't contacting the brake rotor, such as the splash shield.
If you don't hear it, a h&b could still be the culprit - it might only make the noise when loaded. In my case, the hum went away when the bearing was loaded during a turn.
Not very definitive, I'm afraid, but the best I can do from cyberspace.
Good luck!
I replaced my hub & bearing assemblies recently. Only one was bad, but I decided to change both of them. The bad one didn't make a grinding sound, however. It started humming at about 35 mph and got louder as road speed increased. But I suppose that it could make a grinding sound too....don't know for sure.
Lift the front end and inspect the pads, even if the noise doesn't go away when you hit the brakes. If they're OK, spin the wheel by hand and listen for the sound. If you hear it, make sure that something isn't contacting the brake rotor, such as the splash shield.
If you don't hear it, a h&b could still be the culprit - it might only make the noise when loaded. In my case, the hum went away when the bearing was loaded during a turn.
Not very definitive, I'm afraid, but the best I can do from cyberspace.
Good luck!
Last edited by kevin74656; Dec 13, 2006 at 12:17 AM.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
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the hubs bolt on with 3 big bolts, kind of difficult to get to, but can be done. the axle shaft slides to the center of the vehicle then pull back to the new hub. if you change the alxe shaft, i belelive you have to remove the knkuckle whch means popping loose the top and bottom ball joints and steering tie rod, etc.------ the three bolts on the hub i beleive are loctite and do not want to come off. heat with a torch , or cut the ears off the hub and scrap if needed. you get new bolts with the new hubs.----- to test the bearing, jack up the car and take the wheel, and brake caliper off so it dont drag. rotate the tire slowly by hand and listen and "feel" the bearing. this has worked for me both times to confirm it was bearing and not differential or brakes.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,283
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From: Racine county, WI
Originally Posted by maa139
convert to manual hubs. They're cheaper and stronger.
Just my $0.02.
Matt
Just my $0.02.
Matt
Originally Posted by Msp541
I agree too on the manual hubs less BS too!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: West Chester PA
Originally Posted by OSin86
Wrong hubs boys, he's talking about the one that houses the wheel bearing.
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 339
Likes: 1
I am getting that grinding sound again too on my '02.Feels like the right front from what I can tell.I decided to replace the right front bearing assy. and just got one from the dealer for$180.00 out the door.I hope this is the problem.This bearing was replaced at 50k and now have 110k on it.I replaced the left front at 85k do to it making a grinding noise when pulling out also.I will find out if I wasted my money tommorrow night.
New User
Joined: Dec 2006
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Grinding noise 01 Expl sport
Hello I have an 01 Explorer sport i bought used recently
on the front right side we hear a grinding noise on when applying brakes. i took back to the dealer and theu said they didnt ehar anythign or see anything wrong with brakes. Any clues to this? there is no noise while driving at any speed.
on the front right side we hear a grinding noise on when applying brakes. i took back to the dealer and theu said they didnt ehar anythign or see anything wrong with brakes. Any clues to this? there is no noise while driving at any speed.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 339
Likes: 1
did you check the break pads and rotor on the side the noise is coming from?Jack it up and spin wheel and feel for any roughness in bearing.Have someone push on break lightly and turn and see if anything is noticed.Are you sure it'sfrom the right front?I'm working on my Explorer with a nosie and vibration I thought was in the front, but I think now it is in the rear differential and vibrating and being felt up front.Does not do it all the time.Getting ready to change rear differential fluid.
New User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5
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Yes we had the brakes and everything inspected they said they were unable to see anything wrong or hear the noise. It is coming from the front passenger side. There is no mistaking this sound. We cannot hear it with windows up so with windows down we definitely hear it. But only after driving slow, to toss papers in peoples yards then applying brakes do we hear it. As soon as I release the brake pedal it goes away. But when I drive normal street speed or highway, we hear nothing.
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