"Whirring" noise

sagebel · Jul 20, 2019

Ok, first post on this forum. I've searched and searched, read about the whirring noise, IWE, brakes, front diff bearings, steering shaft, etc. I could almost point to any one of them at this point. Looking for some thoughts on how to narrow this down.

2016 Expedition EL 4x4. 80K miles. Cooper Discoverer AT3 4s tires with 13k on them. Tires are rotated every oil change. All other suspension and drive train components are factory originals.

I get the whirring sound and a slight vibration above 30mph. It sounds like it is coming from the driver side. It is fairly steady as speed increases. It goes away whenever the wheel is turned slightly to the right (changing lanes on interstate). Sound seems to get louder when slightly turning wheel to left. I have rotated the front tires side to side with the same results.

There is no 12-6 o'clock play (hand and bar) or 3-9 o'clock play (hand). CVs are disengaged with engine running and tires rotate freely.

16plati · Jul 20, 2019

sagebel said:
Ok, first post on this forum. I've searched and searched, read about the whirring noise, IWE, brakes, front diff bearings, steering shaft, etc. I could almost point to any one of them at this point. Looking for some thoughts on how to narrow this down.

2016 Expedition EL 4x4. 80K miles. Cooper Discoverer AT3 4s tires with 13k on them. Tires are rotated every oil change. All other suspension and drive train components are factory originals.

I get the whirring sound and a slight vibration above 30mph. It sounds like it is coming from the driver side. It is fairly steady as speed increases. It goes away whenever the wheel is turned slightly to the right (changing lanes on interstate). Sound seems to get louder when slightly turning wheel to left. I have rotated the front tires side to side with the same results.

There is no 12-6 o'clock play (hand and bar) or 3-9 o'clock play (hand). CVs are disengaged with engine running and tires rotate freely.

Does it go away when you go from 2H to 4H?

sagebel · Jul 20, 2019

16plati said:
Does it go away when you go from 2H to 4H?

No. Feels the same in 2H and 4H. Also feels the same when transmission is in neutral going down a hill.

I just came in from pulling the calipers and rotors. I listened to the wheel bearings with a stethoscope. Engine was running, hubs were disengaged. Bearings felt and sounded smooth.

The steering shaft also has no play.

From what I have read, it is normal for the hubs to engage when the engine (loss of vacuum) is off correct?

I forgot to mention in my first post, brakes were replaced 5k miles ago with Powerstop vented/drilled rotors and pads.

16plati · Jul 20, 2019

sagebel said:
No. Feels the same in 2H and 4H. Also feels the same when transmission is in neutral going down a hill.

I just came in from pulling the calipers and rotors. I listened to the wheel bearings with a stethoscope. Engine was running, hubs were disengaged. Bearings felt and sounded smooth.

The steering shaft also has no play.

From what I have read, it is normal for the hubs to engage when the engine (loss of vacuum) is off correct?

I forgot to mention in my first post, brakes were replaced 5k miles ago with Powerstop vented/drilled rotors and pads.

Correct, no power to engine, loose the vacuum, hubs engage. When’s the last time you did fluid changes for front and rear diff and TC?

16plati · Jul 20, 2019

On my 16 el platinum 4x4 I’ve had the IWEs, actuators, solenoid, check valves and vacuum lines replaced twice for noises while driving. Both grinding and humming/whirring. I also just had my clutch packs upgraded by ford bc they were chattering when I turned left and right under power at low speeds. 9/10 times the rumbling and whirring sounds come from IWEs

sagebel · Jul 20, 2019

16plati said:
Correct, no power to engine, loose the vacuum, hubs engage. When’s the last time you did fluid changes for front and rear diff and TC?

They are all on my list once it's no longer 100* out. I guess I'll try to get them done next weekend.

16plati · Jul 20, 2019

sagebel said:
They are all on my list once it's no longer 100* out. I guess I'll try to get them done next weekend.

Put the friction modifier in the rear if you have the limited slip differential

richs fishes · Jul 22, 2019

Did this problem start when the brakes were recently changed? Anytime I've had some sort of audible problem that changed with speed, and also changed when turning one way or the other, it ended up being the brake dust shield (or something like a brake line rubbing a wheel). I'd use a long screwdriver and poke right through the wheel and push the dust shield back as much as possible and see if anything changes.

sagebel · Jul 28, 2019

I forgot to mention that I checked the brake dust shield last weekend. All are snug and there are no clearance issues. The noise is definitely coming from the front left. I got the previously planned diff, trans, and t-case fluid changes done yesterday and they had no effect on the noise.

sagebel · Aug 24, 2019

Update: Replaced the vacuum check valves and IWE. System hold vacuum. IWE gears had nice square shoulders. No sign of prolong partial engagement. Sound is stronger from the driver seat than passenger seat. Pretty sure it's coming from the driver side. Sound goes away with even a slight turn of the wheel to the right. Tire rotation had no effect as well. Ideas?

"Whirring" noise

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