I have a "growl" sound that I think is from the front end. 50K on the car. I replaced the pads front and rear with the Rotex and had all four discs turned. The discs were worn pretty badly but cleaned up well. The "growl" is still there with no improvement. The wheel bearings were repacked during the brake job by the mechanic and he thought they were fine. It seems like this sound has gotten worse over the past several months. Has anyone had wheel bearing problems or a sound similar to this? Its easily heard at slower in-town speeds with the radio turned down. Putting on the brakes increases the noise a little and the sound is rpm (wheel) dependant. Thoughts? TIA

 

I may be wrong but aren't the front wheel bearings of the life time sealed no maintenance type? If so I don't think they can be packed. I see nothing in the service manual under "A" or "B" about having the bearings serviced. It would be a hugh step backwards if you had to pack the bearings, most vehicles went to maintenance free. If all the above is true I think you better find a new mechanic.

Do you notice a difference in sound while turning right or left? That's one of the signs of a bad front wheel bearing.

 

I don't notice a change in sound while turning the steering wheel but will have to check thar further. Page 2-27 of the service manual indicates the hub/bearing can be and should be packed with grease although I did not find an interval in maintainance.

 

Now I'm puzzled Woodie. I don't have the service manual, only the booklet that came with the Crossfire entitled "2005 Maintenance Logbook". It lists all of the maintenance items "A" & "B" and the intervals' but no front wheel bearings are mentioned.

Can anyone else straight this out. I would be surprised if they require regular cleaning and packing.

Nontheless Woodie you could have a bad one.

 

Just for grins........jack up the front wheel (one at a time), and see if there's any wobble. Then spin the wheel and listen for the noise you heard.

 

Going to take my mechanic (friend) to lunch today to listen to my "growl" and get better details on what he saw during the brake job. I could not seem to find the time to check this out my self nor to do the brake job my self so I had him do it. I'm sure it was done well but may have to get back into it for more info. Will stay tuned. Hey it's "Take your mechanic to lunch" day. I bet I'll have to buy.

 

My 2005 ltd makes a low hz "growling" but it is just the tires making the noise (oem Conti's).

 

There is a manual online that talks about a growl in the power steering unit. I'm not a mechanic but this is in the front I believe. Take a look at page 19-3


http://homepage.mac.com/gregmeach/XFire/

Best of luck

R.J.

 

Post lunch,,,,,,,the growl is only between 18 and 30 mph. We jacked up the car and spun and shook the front tires with no apparent play or noise. Hard to spin them very fast due to the residual caliper pressure. My tires are Goodyear F1 with about 26K on them. They have a little bit of a cupped apprearance on the front but are very smooth @ 80 mph on the highway. No handling problems, vibrations or shakes,,,just noise at 18-30. Very annoying. I did have to buy lunch,, Mexican if its important.

 

Usually when a front wheel bearing is going bad the growl (noise) will increase when you turn the car because your putting more torque and load on the bad bearing. Take it down a highway and change lanes.

 

R.J. I don't think its the power steering pump but thats a great link. Thanks.

 

Frank, I've done that but it doesn't seem to make any difference in the noise. Just between 18 and 30 in a straight line or turn or weave. Thanks.

 

If it's not getting louder when you turn I'd rule out the bearings. In my experience they have always gotten loader under load. Good luck and let us know what it was.

 

These wide tires w/ 26K on them could be a suspect. I know the F1 are directional tires, but rotate the back, side to side and drive it for 10 miles or so. If no differnece, try the front ones. If nothing changes, you know it is not the tires. If it is a tire problem, rotating them in the opposite direction may still give you a noise, but it will sound different. I have had tire noise on other cars over the years that sounded just like bearings. Be sure to put them back in their proper position when finished.

As most stated here, by shifting the weight from side to side, will usually tell you if you have a bad bearing. But which one?

Not to confuse, but I just replaced a drivers side front hub assy on an Explorer. The noise got extremely louder when turning right. Got the job finished, roadtested and the noise was still there on a right turn. Replaced the other side and all noise gone. So sometimes taking weight off a bearing can make it louder as well.

Years ago I had a bearing type noise I couldn't figure out for anything. My father-in-law happened to have the same kind of car I had. We pulled them side by side and I put his wheels/tires on my car and everything was quiet.
The next day I put new tires on my car and it was like new again.

Good luck, James

 

Thanks James. I have wondered if it could be the tires also and at 26K it won't be long until I will have to replace them. I had two mechanics (my friend and his friend) drive the car yesterday and they both feel like it is probably bearings. They have ordered them and we will get into them next week. More to be revealed.

 

I have the same growl sound too, it's coming from the Alternator, water pump or idler pulley. havent had time to lookinto it further. but I think its a bearing in the alternator.

 

I'm pretty sure my sounds are from the front wheels, especially the right. I love the smell of napalm in the morning also.

 

I hope you find the grow. The only place I love a growl is from the exhaust

Good Luck,
R.J.

 

As it turns out, my growl may actually be a rumble (who knew?). The cause of it may be the "cupping" of the inside edge of my 26K Goodyear F1s. Outside edge looks fine but the inside edge has sever irregular wear. Anyone else have wear patterns liike that? I will be installing new tires soon as these are trashed. More to come.

 

i herd that before. more like a howl or whine, when her head bounces off the head reast