Topic: Ford Ranger Tire/Wheel/? Noise

[CBJoe]

Bouncing this out there for ideas.  I've got an old 2001 ford ranger 2WD with fairly new tires.  It's developed what sounds like tire noise, but I can't seem to pinpoint the source...

It sounds just like if I put a set of knobby off road tires on it or if a tire was rubbing. Noise started suddenly...wasn't there one day and was there the next.  Cant remember hitting any potholes or bad bumps... 

- Noise specific to rotation of the wheels
- Braking doesn't change noise at all
- coasting in neutral doesn't change noise either

Tires are only about 2 years old with maybe 10K miles on them.  No feeling of being out of round.  Tires have road warranty on them so going to have them checked and rotated to see if they find anything off or if the noise changes when I rotate them. 

All I can think of is maybe tread separation?  I've never heard a bad wheel bearing make this kind of noise....I hope it isn't the rear diff. 

Thanks for thoughts...just making a list of things to check.

Joe

[toytuff]

Wheel bearings is where I would look. Need repacked every so often.

[Ridem32]

Drive it again sway left and right. If the noise changes during swaying it a wheel bearing. If noise does not change it's the tires


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[strynboen]

low cost tires can make a lot of noise..it starts after some months driving..somthing abaut the rubber make Sharp egedes vho make it screaming..i vent to a truck repair and asked if they can cut a bit,, to make a perfekt auter diameter..but they said no..vasted Money...think i give the tires to a farmer or a off road driver..they are only good on mud or snow..at low speed.

[eigenvector]

Check the suspension and bearings  - that should be cakewalk on your truck (I have one).  Shouldn't need to get too detailed about it, only look for obvious things.

Tread separation?  I've never seen anything go wrong with a reputable tire sold to me in 30 years.

Just out of curiosity what are the tires?

[CBJoe]

I was sitting and thinking to myself If I've ever repacked the bearings on this truck and I think the answer is no

Here's a vid of the noise.  I'll get the tires checked out anyway but will plan to replace the bearings since they have 120K miles on them.  I've still not experienced bearings making this noise before, but that doesn't mean much 

[eigenvector]

120 thousand miles???

Replace the bearings.  It's literally a one hour job and costs all of 100 bucks if you spring for new hubs.  Even if that's not the issue I'd do that.

[CBJoe]

Check the suspension and bearings  - that should be cakewalk on your truck (I have one).  Shouldn't need to get too detailed about it, only look for obvious things.

Tread separation?  I've never seen anything go wrong with a reputable tire sold to me in 30 years.

Just out of curiosity what are the tires?

Pathfinder Sport S AT...have been great tires with awesome snow and wet weather traction

http://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/pathfinder-sport-sat/p/17955

[CBJoe]

120 thousand miles???

Replace the bearings.  It's literally a one hour job and costs all of 100 bucks if you spring for new hubs.  Even if that's not the issue I'd do that.

I really had to sit and think about it and I cannot remember replacing them on the truck...I probably only drive the truck about 1-2K miles a year for the last 5 years. 

Edit: I have to vindicate myself a little bit.  I've definitely re-packed the bearings before.  I completely forgot that the bearings come out when replacing brake disks.  Not sure If I've replaced though.

[eigenvector]

I still think it's something simple.

My Ranger is the same way - sits in the driveway and mopes almost 90% of the year.

Jack it up, spin the wheels.  Could be brake drag, even if repacked the bearings could still be needing replacement, hub out of true, etc...  I'm sure you know the drill. 

Are you certain this isn't coming from the engine?  Heck - maybe your tensioner is shot or the power steering pump is going out (or running dry)?

[CBJoe]

I still think it's something simple.

My Ranger is the same way - sits in the driveway and mopes almost 90% of the year.

Jack it up, spin the wheels.  Could be brake drag, even if repacked the bearings could still be needing replacement, hub out of true, etc...  I'm sure you know the drill. 

Are you certain this isn't coming from the engine?  Heck - maybe your tensioner is shot or the power steering pump is going out (or running dry)?

Not engine noise...Photobucket finally played nice and uploaded my video.  I'm going to pull the front wheels off this week to take a look at the brakes.  I'm going to go ahead and plan to replace the Wheel Bearings since re-packed or no I haven't replaced them. 

[Ridem32]

Still no video


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[CBJoe]

Still no video


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How about this?  Not sure why you cant see it....I can click on it and view/listen

[CBJoe]

Just watched some vids...Pretty darn positive it's a wheel bearing. 

[mrbreeze]

You need to jack up the front end and do a front end check. It's best to use a floor jack and jackstands. Get both wheels off the ground and unlock the steering. Grab either wheel at the 12 and 6 position and rock it back and forth. Should be no play. Grab it at the 9 and 3 and rock it back and forth. Should feel no play and the other wheel should turn at the same as the one you are rocking. Also spin each wheel and check axial and radial run out. You can eye ball this or if you want rig up a fixed pointer. Usually can spot a separated tire and I've seen plenty of those. They can make different types of noise.
If you find any tire problems you can take it in for a wheel balance. This will cost you but is a better way to determine tire/wheel problems.
Another thing to do while your at it is check the ball joints. Sometimes a bad ball joint can mimic a loose wheel bearing.

[toytuff]

Keep them on the road CBjoe.

[CBJoe]

Keep them on the road CBjoe.

I love my Ranger...had it since new.  Has never let me down!  Somehow it even gets better mileage now than when new




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[toytuff]

Built 3 million over the years.

Mines just a 4 cylinder, stick with no air. As plain as Ford made them. Drive it all the time but goes in the garage when the heat comes. Gets a summer break.

Like yours. Kinda wish I bought an extended cab but this will suffice. I had all the fluids changed. Trans, dif, cooling. My wheel bearings needed a repacked thus my response earlier.

[strynboen]

thek kardan and shafts..they can make the same saunds as tires and hveel bearings..

or ..go to a car test stand,,, they have a elektric spinner they puts on the hveel and speed them up( one bu one)..its klerly if a bearing set is gone..it takes a few minuts for them to test them all..then you safe a lot of Work and time

[Duke McDukiedook]

Keep them on the road CBjoe.

I love my Ranger...had it since new.  Has never let me down!  Somehow it even gets better mileage now than when new




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Because it is a Mazda!!! 

[ekpent]

 Just recently replaced both front bearing hubs on my Dodge Caravan. One of them was growling pretty bad,sounded like tire noise. Mine had no play but you can check the wheels by holding the top and bottom see if it has play in that up and down direction.

[CBJoe]

Not sure If I'm going to get to the bearings this week.  I'm also gonna jack the rear end up and put it on stands to be sure It isn't drive shaft noise.  please, please let it be wheel bearings.

[my name is nobody]

Not sure If I'm going to get to the bearings this week.  I'm also gonna jack the rear end up and put it on stands to be sure It isn't drive shaft noise.  please, please let it be wheel bearings.

Might be an axle bearing, carrier bearing, pinion bearing, or possibly a driveshaft carrier bearing if you have a two piece drive shaft. U joints maybe. Spin each front wheel and listen for noise as well as "feel" for rumble type vibration in the suspension.

EDIT: video sounds like wheel bearing, noise is consistant with vehicle speed.

[BomberMann650]

My first vehicle was a first year Ranger.  The R was silent.

[Terry in Australia]

Keep them on the road CBjoe.

I love my Ranger...had it since new.  Has never let me down!  Somehow it even gets better mileage now than when new




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Because it is a Mazda!!! 

Ha ha, does that make it a Mord, or a Fazda? I remember driving an Army Ford Ranger a few years ago and thinking what a nice car it was, not realising at the time that it was just "Badge Engineering"..........

[CBJoe]

Not sure If I'm going to get to the bearings this week.  I'm also gonna jack the rear end up and put it on stands to be sure It isn't drive shaft noise.  please, please let it be wheel bearings.

Might be an axle bearing, carrier bearing, pinion bearing, or possibly a driveshaft carrier bearing if you have a two piece drive shaft. U joints maybe. Spin each front wheel and listen for noise as well as "feel" for rumble type vibration in the suspension.

EDIT: video sounds like wheel bearing, noise is consistant with vehicle speed.

So I jacked the rear of the truck up and put it on stands.  I can hear no strange noises from driveshaft/rear diff/rear wheels.

On to the next items and order up some bearings.

[my name is nobody]

Not sure If I'm going to get to the bearings this week.  I'm also gonna jack the rear end up and put it on stands to be sure It isn't drive shaft noise.  please, please let it be wheel bearings.

Might be an axle bearing, carrier bearing, pinion bearing, or possibly a driveshaft carrier bearing if you have a two piece drive shaft. U joints maybe. Spin each front wheel and listen for noise as well as "feel" for rumble type vibration in the suspension.

EDIT: video sounds like wheel bearing, noise is consistant with vehicle speed.

So I jacked the rear of the truck up and put it on stands.  I can hear no strange noises from driveshaft/rear diff/rear wheels.

On to the next items and order up some bearings.

You'll probably know which one it is soon as you spin it, they're usually real obvious. The noisey ones can and do get that way quickly sometimes. My 04 Ranger developed noise like yours. 1day quiet, the next day noisey.

[CBJoe]

Just to circle back around....was indeed wheel bearing.  Replaced Rotors/Pads/Bearings and all good.  The Ranger lives on