I have a 2000 Mazda B4000, 4WD that is making a rotating thumping noise that sounds like it is coming from the front drivers side in 2WD. About 5 weeks ago I changed out both front wheel hub assemblies as one of them was bad after 120 k. Shortly after that the noise started. Thought it might have been one of the cheap oversees hubs I put in so I got a set of Timkens and put them in but the noise is still there. When accelerating it starts at like 22 mph and is real loud until like 40 or so when it gets drowned out because the wheels are going to fast. The noise is lounder when you are not accelerating and is still there with truck in neutral when coasting above 20mph on a smooth road. The noise is there when going straight on a smooth road and when turning the wheel hard left, but goes away when turning hard right. It also will come and go with the suspension flexing on a road that is not smooth and has dips, etc. Besides the hubs I rotated the tires, had the rotors turned, new pads but which made no difference. I also verified the front drive shaft and half shafts are not turning in 2WD to rule them out. There is no shaking in the steering wheel but sometimes you can feel the thumping in the floor board. Any ideas our suggestions would be appreciated, as this is driving me nuts!

 

do you have manual hubs

sounds like you have a damaged c.v shaft joint

 

It kind of sounds like it, however the CV shafts are not turning when I'm in 2WD. I verified that they along with the front drive shaft were not turning. Also I just changed over to manual locking hubs. Noise was there with these and was also there with the old vaceum operated ones. Also the noise will disappear as the suspension flexes on a bumpy round, but is there constantly when driving on a smooth road. I was thinking even though it sounds like it is coming from the front, maybe it is my drive shaft. I have the aluminum replacement one piece that the dealer installed under warrenty due to issues I had with the 2 piece one.

 

Any way to record the sounds and post them. That would help a lot.

 

I have the same thumbing sound, nerve racking at times until I can forget.

I had it back to the dealers, they rotated the tires, replaced the tires but nothing.

My thought is the Bearing Pack.

Maybe Manual Bearing Packs will help ?

Which ones though ?

 

hi
Turned out to be a bad spot on the inner part of the drivers side front tire, believe it or not!