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occasional whirring noise
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ian321
New User
Apr 5, 2011, 6:46 AM
Post #1 of 4
(3289 views)
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occasional whirring noise
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I have an occasional whirring noise on left front wheel area, seems to happen after starting out from a stop or turn. it stops when I put it into 4 wheel drive then I can put it back to 2 wheel drive. doesnt happen when mechanic takes it out for test drive.(been to 3 mechanics over 3 years)truck is a ford ranger 4x4 1997 4.0 eng. 139,000 miles front and rear u joints have been replaced, left and right ball joints have been replaced,mechanics dont seem to listen when you try to describe problem.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 5, 2011, 7:44 AM
Post #2 of 4
(3281 views)
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Re: occasional whirring noise
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This is typical for a wheel bearing. In hub should look like this...........
If the same as last one I did on a different year inner and outer were same bearing - always check - even match them up at parts outlet. These were greasable/packable bearings. Again - If like last one(s) I did there's no cotter pin but there is a tiny key lock you need a dental pick and a magnet and good luck to get out that acts as the cotter pin. Takes a special socket for the nut if I recall. Been a while and I'm retired from this.
If doing this and you are convinced this is the trouble/cause you need that socket, brass drift to get race out. Many times I've been able to use old race once out to install new race till you feel it dead bottom properly. Pack the new bearing as well as possible with quality grease meant for wheel bearings. When installed you snug up that nut hard once, back off and re tighten just so such that there's no freeplay and back off till the slot and key will go back in and check. Not too tight, not too lose and I don't have a torque spec for you. Doable if you are a good DIYer. If not and this is found to be the problem and suspect it is but not there so anything is best guess from info you gave. If just slight right now the bad one (usually just one of the two) will show "galling" which is like pepper dimples into the race when wiped clean to look. There should be none of that. They don't heal and re-greasing won't fix a bad bearing only replacement.
The comment on power and steering causing it to change is highly suggestive as said of a bearing issue. The joints and other parts in front end generally will clunk more than the "whirring" sound you describe this as. Reason for steering or shift of load making it worse or go away is the weight shifts and the better or good one is taking the load.
Diagnose as best you can so you don't waste $ and time. There's a chance brake(s) could be somehow causing the symptoms.
If bearing at what I'm guessing is early, the life before a failure is unknown. Next drive to who knows but I wouldn't leave this for long no matter what is found and it should get worse and then it means do it NOW!
Again - If this is the issue it shouldn't be the world to just send out to be done if you don't want or know how. As they go they are not very expensive bearings but get the best grade possible. "Made in China" is a problem with bearings - know that.
Good luck. May not be around today to respond to questions you may have but back late if I need to go. Another here may walk you thru it or find specific already written instructions,
T
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ian321
New User
Apr 6, 2011, 6:37 AM
Post #3 of 4
(3268 views)
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Re: occasional whirring noise
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thanks for your help, will check into it. Ian
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 6, 2011, 7:46 AM
Post #4 of 4
(3262 views)
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Re: occasional whirring noise
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ian: Just know the best we at a site can do is our best guesses based on the info and how interpreted. For best diagnosis for a bearing that isn't totally wiped out yet looking right at the race for the ones you can, or spinning in hand for some verifies. Good bearing for automotive use are silent with no feel of any grittiness - none! If hard to feel, just looking for that "galling" (not sure how that word is spelled) is not allowed - at all. Galling is like small pepper grain size loss of metal seen best on the race - sometimes on the roller bearings and easy when they are real bad. The speed of a failure gets exponential if worse by the day or week - hurry for those.
Laugh - as you know some clunk or sound will never show up in front of the pros. That's some rule I didn't make up.
Your description if on target was pretty clear to me anyway.
Good luck with the find and fix,
T
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