Strange Noises
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Junior User
Joined: May 2008
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Strange Noises
Hi,
My wife's 2004 Escape 6cyl produces strange groaning noises apparently coming from the right front underbody. But only when she turns a corner, nothing when she drives straight ahead, even going over speed bumps, no noise! I have lifted the entire front end and checked all kinds of things being lose or so but can't find anything wrong.
Can someone tell me what I should be looking for?
Thanks,
Ed
My wife's 2004 Escape 6cyl produces strange groaning noises apparently coming from the right front underbody. But only when she turns a corner, nothing when she drives straight ahead, even going over speed bumps, no noise! I have lifted the entire front end and checked all kinds of things being lose or so but can't find anything wrong.
Can someone tell me what I should be looking for?
Thanks,
Ed
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
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From: Northern Maine
Check the wheel bearings. My wife's 05 was making a growling noise when going around a right curve at higher speeds. (Couldn't hear it under 25 MPH) It sounded like it was coming from the left side. It turned out to be the right front wheel bearing. To test, we raised the truck on a lift and set it down with a block of wood under one front wheel, leaving three wheels off the ground. I started the truck and run it in drive at about 15-20 MPH. When the right wheel was spinning alone, the noise was obvious.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
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The tires that came with my Escape were awful, they made so much noise I thought it was my transmission (highway speeds) when I changed tires to Michelin's the noise went completely away.
Why don't you try rotating your tires, and see if the problem is still there, if nothing changes than you could try Dan's idea.
Scott
Why don't you try rotating your tires, and see if the problem is still there, if nothing changes than you could try Dan's idea.
Scott
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 155
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Oops, sorry I read your post earlier, and then the second time just skimmed it (even though it was short) stupid on my part, sorry, I answered a question that wasn't asked. I never replaced a wheel bearing on my Escape, seems there are other threads somewhere though out here about that. I think Dan's idea might be best for checking if it's the bearing.
Since your not getting any noise over bumps doesn't sound like a sway bar link. Might just want to jack up that side and see if you have a lot of play when you pull on the wheel. You've probably already done something like that.
Well I feel useless here, sorry I can't be of any help, hopefully someone else will chine in and give you an idea, good luck!
Scott
Since your not getting any noise over bumps doesn't sound like a sway bar link. Might just want to jack up that side and see if you have a lot of play when you pull on the wheel. You've probably already done something like that.
Well I feel useless here, sorry I can't be of any help, hopefully someone else will chine in and give you an idea, good luck!
Scott
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Well, I had the entire front jacked up and there doesn't seem to be any play at all. I noticed one rubber thingy that was falling apart on the right side of this thin metal bar that goes across under the front body. I'm not sure if that is the sway bar. Unfortunately, I don't have a repair manual, otherwise I could describe things a lot better.
Thanks for the advice.
Ed
Thanks for the advice.
Ed
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Northern Maine
Sometimes wheel bearings can be bad and not show any play. The wheel bearings on my 05 Escape press in. If you do have a bad bearing, you will need a press to get it apart and put the new one in.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
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From: Northern Maine
It is pretty straight forward work and doesn't effect the front end alignment. The brake caliper and rotor has to come off. (You don't have to disconnect the brake hose, just wire the rotor up and hang it under the fender) The tie rod end, lower ball joint and the McPherson strut has to be unhooked from the hub assembly and the axle shaft nut removed. The axle then has to be pressed out (I used a big hammer and a brass drift) Once you have the hub assembly off the vehicle, there is a snap ring that comes out and you have to press the old bearing out and press the new one in. It took about an hour, not counting the trip to town to find a press.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: hinckley ohio
It is as Dan says its pretty easy to do.Mine where loud and if you turned the steering wheel a little noise would stop i believe someone had posted before if you slight turn to the left and the noise stops the left one is the issue.right same thing. my left was bad.Bearing was like $35-$50 and to press old one out and new one in was $50.00
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Junior User
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Guys,
I think I need to start this post from scratch!
I drove the Escape about a hundred miles today and I'm pretty sure it's not a bearing. The noise is not as my wife described, it sometimes sounds like a bunch of tools is rattling in a hidden space. The noise can't really be located. When I drive on a smooth surface, everything is fine, except of course for the tire noise. On a parking lot, turning the wheel quite a bit there is some noise like metal hits on metal, clunking like.
I suspect there's something in the front suspension area defective. Does that sound reasonable?
I think I need to start this post from scratch!
I drove the Escape about a hundred miles today and I'm pretty sure it's not a bearing. The noise is not as my wife described, it sometimes sounds like a bunch of tools is rattling in a hidden space. The noise can't really be located. When I drive on a smooth surface, everything is fine, except of course for the tire noise. On a parking lot, turning the wheel quite a bit there is some noise like metal hits on metal, clunking like.
I suspect there's something in the front suspension area defective. Does that sound reasonable?
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2007
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Strange sound
Sounds like sway bar end links. The rubber thing that looks ragged is probably the bushing in the end links. The newer aftermarket links are much better than the originals. 30 minutes to replace. Very easy.