2007 4x2 Intermittent Grinding/Whining Noise on left side when at rolling

[Aaron Lane]

I've only found issues of noise with 4x4, so I think this is different. 2007 Exp Limited, 4x2. I get an intermittent noise on the drivers side when I'm rolling down the road. It sounds like a tire running on the wheel well, or like I'm running over the painted line on the road. Like a low grinding or something. And it's not constant. I'll hear it 5 or 6 times in 20 seconds, then not hear it for several minutes, then it'll pop back up again. Happens when I'm driving straight down the road. I can also feel it in the driver's side floorboard when it's making the sound. I want to make sure something isn't about to blow up lol!

 

[docraymund]

Remove the front tire, driver's side and check if the brake caliper is scraping against the inside of the rim.

 

[NevadaGeo]

In my experience with off road and gravel roads, stones may get between your wheel and brake disk. Best solution is to stop, put in reverse and see if the stone frees up and comes out. If not, like docraymond above says, take the wheel off and check caliper or for a stone.

 

[Aaron Lane]

**Update** This afternoon, when the noise started again, the front end dipped a little like the brakes were lightly engaged. I jacked it up, pulled the wheel off and checked the brake caliper and stone guard. While it was on the rack, I grabbed all 4 tires at 12 and 6 and there's no play in the wheel bearings. I shook the driveline and there's no play in the hanger bearing. I made sure the skid plate wasn't rattling. I'm at a loss...

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Did you happen to spin the front wheels while you had it in the air? If so did they spin smoothly? Also, sometimes a rear wheel bearing can be going out and it can sound like it's coming from the front. Does it change pitch when you slow down? I had a rear wheel bearing going out and it would change in frequency and amplitude as I sped up or slowed down.

 

[Aaron Lane]

Front tires spin freely, and there's no play in the rear. I've just been up and down the same stretch of road for an hour, and here's the latest. It does it mostly at 40 - 45mph, 1200rpm. When the noise starts, the RPMs jump just a hair...like from 1200 to 1350. I can't get it to do it when the cruise is on, only when I'm controlling the gas pedal. As soon as I take my foot off the gas, the noise stops. I called 2 Ford dealers today and the service people I spoke to had never heard of anything like it.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Front tires spin freely, and there's no play in the rear. I've just been up and down the same stretch of road for an hour, and here's the latest. It does it mostly at 40 - 45mph, 1200rpm. When the noise starts, the RPMs jump just a hair...like from 1200 to 1350. I can't get it to do it when the cruise is on, only when I'm controlling the gas pedal. As soon as I take my foot off the gas, the noise stops. I called 2 Ford dealers today and the service people I spoke to had never heard of anything like it.

Okay, I'm going to guess a slipping clutch in your transmission. That needle jump is the thing that makes me suspicious. If all the wheels are good and the drive shaft is good then then the next link in the chain is the tranny. How many miles are on it at this point?

 

[Aaron Lane]

I was kinda gravitating to the transmission as well. It's got 110179 on the OD right now. I had the 100K service done (plugs, coolant flush/fill, etc) but I don't think they did anything to the trans.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I was kinda gravitating to the transmission as well. It's got 110179 on the OD right now. I had the 100K service done (plugs, coolant flush/fill, etc) but I don't think they did anything to the trans.

About the only thing you can do is have a transmission shop take a look at it.

 

[Aaron Lane]

I did this morning. Diagnosed as a slipping torque converter. The chatter sound was distinct. The shop owner knew the sound just by description, then confirmed it when he and I took a ride in the truck. He recommend a flush and fill with a filter change...said it's a 50/50 chance it'll fix it. If not, I'm looking at a $3K tranny rebuild. Ugh...

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I did this morning. Diagnosed as a slipping torque converter. The chatter sound was distinct. The shop owner knew the sound just by description, then confirmed it when he and I took a ride in the truck. He recommend a flush and fill with a filter change...said it's a 50/50 chance it'll fix it. If not, I'm looking at a $3K tranny rebuild. Ugh...

Good Luck! I hope that works out. If it doesn't, you will have a rebuilt transmission with a warranty and you won't have to worry about it again for another 100,000 miles.

 

[bobmbx]

ON my 2008 Mountaineer Premier, I started hearing/feeling the "rumble strip effect" every now and then. Of course, 2 dealers and trusted local mechanic said "new tranny".

After replacing the fluid and filter, its a smooth as silk. My trusted mechanic is unable to explain it. So I pointed him to the "Explorer Forum", where there are pages and pages of similar problems being solved simply by changing the fluid. Turns out its the friction modifier wearing out, and allowing the TC clutches to slip, and that forces the TC to lock/unlock rapidly. That produces the shudder.

I'll give you a better probability - 1.