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2000 Explorer Wheel Noise

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Old Jul 12, 2007 | 08:13 PM
  #1  
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2000 Explorer Wheel Noise

Hello to all,

I have a 2000 Explorer Xlt with a strange noise problem. It starts around 30 mph and gets less noticeable around 55 and up it sounds like a tire noise but
not sure Iv'e replaced all three tires with the exception of the left front which
is starting to get worn. Iv'e replaced the right front wheel hub bearing 6 months ago, my question is this would the worn tire on the left front end cause such a
noise? or is it something else, I just turned 120,000 miles
 
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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 11:33 AM
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Same problem here, on a 99 Sport 4wd.. Sounds like a flat tire around 20 mph and gets worse as speed increases until you hit about 65 and then the noise is gone. I thought it was the right wheel bearing which I replaced and problem persists. I'm thinking that it might a bearing in the passenger side front axle. I'm having trouble doing a diagnosis on it and I don't want to throw any more unnecessary parts at it. Anyone know any way to test the bearings in the axle? I put it up on jack stands and put it in drive, but I didn't hear the noise.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 11:36 AM
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very common is front tires chopping. Rotate tires front to rear unless rear tires are also chopped from being on the front previously.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by antony25
very common is front tires chopping. Rotate tires front to rear unless rear tires are also chopped from being on the front previously.
Yeah, tried that too, in desparation, after putting the bearing in. It actually seemed to make the noise worse at low speeds and better at high speeds. The tires don't seem to be wearing strangely.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 05:24 PM
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i have heard of guys with internal axle bearing problems, but personally i have only had the wheel bearing problems. our 2002 got about 85,000 and started making the noise. i jacked it up, took off wheels and brake calipers to eliminate any drag noise, then spin the disc and listen. compare left to right. after turning about 50 times each i convinced myselft one side was dragging a little and the other was not. changed it and now quuiet. 6 months later the 1996 EXP had same thing. did the same test and changed out one bearing at 140k miles... other side went out at 150k.. always the wheel bearings, no axle or transfer case problems to date.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by steve(ill)
i have heard of guys with internal axle bearing problems, but personally i have only had the wheel bearing problems. our 2002 got about 85,000 and started making the noise. i jacked it up, took off wheels and brake calipers to eliminate any drag noise, then spin the disc and listen. compare left to right. after turning about 50 times each i convinced myselft one side was dragging a little and the other was not. changed it and now quuiet. 6 months later the 1996 EXP had same thing. did the same test and changed out one bearing at 140k miles... other side went out at 150k.. always the wheel bearings, no axle or transfer case problems to date.
Alright, thanks for the heads up steve. I'm going to take a look at the left side and see if I might have picked the wrong side. I would swear that the noise is coming from the passenger side, but it's really hard to tell. It's amazing how such a loud and irritating noise can be so hard to track down!!
 
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 05:28 PM
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at 30 MPH your moving 44 feet per second. tire is about 8 ft around so its turning 6 revolutions per secondd when you hear the noise. in the garage, your hard pressed to turn 1 RPS so the noise is not very noticable, and the tire is not loaded with ground pressure--- your right, its not obvious.
 
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Old Jan 6, 2008 | 07:25 PM
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Originally Posted by steve(ill)
at 30 MPH your moving 44 feet per second. tire is about 8 ft around so its turning 6 revolutions per secondd when you hear the noise. in the garage, your hard pressed to turn 1 RPS so the noise is not very noticable, and the tire is not loaded with ground pressure--- your right, its not obvious.
Well, I changed the other side wheel bearing and the noise is not any better. I'm not sure what to do next at this point. Are there any bearings inside the front axles? At this point, I'm having a terrible time tracking down where the noise is coming from.
 
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Old Jan 6, 2008 | 09:00 PM
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i agree with you, the best possibility is the other wheel bearing. there are 3 more bearings inside the axle, but they have constant lubrication, where as the outer wheel bearing is permanently greased and therefore not as reliable.
 
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Old Jan 6, 2008 | 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by steve(ill)
i agree with you, the best possibility is the other wheel bearing. there are 3 more bearings inside the axle, but they have constant lubrication, where as the outer wheel bearing is permanently greased and therefore not as reliable.
Well, I've changed both wheel bearings now, so I think it's time to try the axle if there's bearings in that. It looks like the driver side was replaced already, so I'm thinking the passenger side is the way to go. Do you know if there's any way to test if the bearings are shot in the axle? Thanks!
 
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Old Jan 7, 2008 | 05:07 PM
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dont know of a good way to check the front axle. i think i would drain the pumpkin and look at what drains out.. might pull the front drive shaft off and see what the universal joints act like, and try to turn the pinion into the axle to confirm the problem.. hopefully it is not in the transfer case????
 
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Old Jan 7, 2008 | 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by steve(ill)
dont know of a good way to check the front axle. i think i would drain the pumpkin and look at what drains out.. might pull the front drive shaft off and see what the universal joints act like, and try to turn the pinion into the axle to confirm the problem.. hopefully it is not in the transfer case????
Yeah, sounds like I'm thinking along the same lines. I pulled out the fill plug in the middle of my testing and oil ran out, so I know it has oil in it. I'm going to drain the oil and take a look. And I think I'm going to replace the u joints, both front and rear. I know that I need to grease the slip joint on the rear driveshaft. Thanks for all of your help, steve. I'll keep you posted on what happens.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2008 | 10:22 PM
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Hey, It seems I'm hearing a similar noise, like a humming especially when coasting. Bearings were replaced, same noise persists. I saw something about rear axle problems. Anyone other ideas?
 
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