Odd noise

[GngrBeardMan]

I recently noticed an occasional noise coming from the driver front wheel. It only happens every once in a while and only last for a few seconds, 30 at the most. It sounds almost metal on metal. I can't seem to accurately recreate it but I have noticed it seems to happen more after I've used the brakes. If I'm stopped at a stop sign or red light for a while then when I start driving I can hear it. My first thought was brake pads getting low but every vehicle I've had has had a higher pitched more constant squeal. Then I was thinking maybe the brake pad isn't coming away from the rotor properly. Haven't had a chance to look because our apartment complex has rules against working on cars. I would also like to mention that i did have a code pop up once for the ABS sensor on that wheel but it went away. Any ideas what I could look at when I get a chance to actually work on it?

 

[SafariGoneWrong]

Is it 4WD? I'm grasping here but if it is 4WD could the additional heat be affecting the vacuum actuated Integrated Wheel Ends (IWEs)... If you're up for it, put it through a stress test if there are roads in your area that allow for, let's say, multiple panic stops from speed. I did that last year when I had a brake issue (pedal slowly sinking to floor under hard braking) and you will learn more about what is going on.

 

[AWAR]

If you have an auto 4x4 setting try it and see if the noise disappears. If so it can be the solenoid on the firewall or the IWE at the wheel. It also could be loosing a wheel bearing. The abs code means look at the wheel bearing first.

 

[GngrBeardMan]

Had to drive around quite a bit today. No more noise but ABS light keeps coming on and it's throwing a code for the left front wheel speed sensor. Also noticed when the light is off I get brake shudder and the pedal is soft. Then the ABS light comes on and the brakes work perfect. Gonna try to do some hard braking here tomorrow if I can. It is a 4WD but I haven't had to turn on the 4WD for more than a year.

 

[GngrBeardMan]

So had to add some brake fluid when we got home earlier. Took it for another test drive after just to see. ABS light was on when I pulled out of the parking spot but went off before I left the parking lot. Got shudder and weak pedal stopping before pulling out of the parking lot. Then the ABS light came back on. Got the metal screeching noise for about 20 seconds then nothing. Tried heavy braking, even tried oh shit braking and I didn't notice anything off. Tried it in 2WD and 4WD and no difference. With the inconsistent noise could it be a wheel bearing?

 

[AWAR]

The ABS light indicates to jack it up and check the bearing. You may have to take it in to a quality tire or repair shop to diagnose it. I saw that you don’t have a place to work on it yourself. The ABS sensor is mounted to the wheel bearing assembly itself. The shudder and weak pedal is most likely the ABS system trying to understand the information it is getting from that one sensor.

 

[whtbronco]

Also put the truck in A4WD every couple weeks to a month just for a short drive. It just helps keep everything working and moving. Things start to corrode when they are not used or moved at all.

 

[EngineerMike]

My money is on brake pad wear. You can check this easily, look at the rotor for the characteristic score marking. Usually it is a constant or close to constant when it starts, but that's dependent on a number of things

 

[GngrBeardMan]

The rotors have been lightly scarred since I bought it. Was planning on replacing all the rotors but then I lost my job and that was put on the back burner. Can still confirm the brakes work fine when the ABS light is on but any time it goes off I get hard brake pedal, shudder, the soft brake pedal. After about 2-3 minutes the ABS light comes back on and it brakes fine. I have a new wheel speed sensor that should be here on the 11th and if my migraines cooperate I'll swap that out shortly after. Hopefully I'll see something that explains the odd noise when I have the wheel off. I also noticed an occasional light thumb coming from that wheel to so I will probably look for an answer to that too.

 

[GngrBeardMan]

After some struggle and a lot of cussing that I pulled from my time in the military I was able to get that stupid sensor replaced. Also swapped the brake pads while I was in there because it was time. Thought I had found the cause of the noise as I found what I'm guessing is a retainer spring in the middle back edge of the brake caliper that was broken. Thought maybe that was the culprit but right at the end of my test drive the noise came back. She's breaking perfect again with no issues and the A4WD is working fine but as I was puking back into my apartment that noise popped back in for about a sec. Gonna look into the wheel beating when I get a chance but it will have to wait until I can afford the part and can afford to have my daily out of commission for a bit. Gonna have to look at how hard it will be to replace the wheel bearing

 

[whtbronco]

Man it sucks to think you got something fixed and then find out it's not. The wheel bearings are not that hard to replace. Book time is 1hr, took me closer to 2hrs each, if you have only hand tools and you haven't done them on the Expedition previously figure on 3hrs.

Front wheel bearing hub process:
Disconnect the wheel speed sensor, 9ft lbs.
Remove the axle nut dust cap.
Remove the axle nut, 20ft lbs.
Stick a screwdriver in the rotor against the caliper bracket to remove the axle nut.
The axle nut is intended as one time use, I just use blue thread locker and reuse them.
Remove the caliper bracket bolts, 148ft lbs.
Remove the 4 wheel bearing hub bolts, 148ft lbs.

You may need to push the caliper piston back in a bit to get the pads, caliper and bracket back over the rotor.