Hello everybody,
I'm new here and was hoping to find some info on a noise my 03 Ranger (FX4) is making. I'd tried searching this website to no avail, and if someone could guide me to the answer it would be greatly appreciated.

Not sure whats going on but my passenger/front tire area is making a rubbing noise when I turn left. Like a "whomp, whomp, whomp" sound, I rotated my tires thinking that they are wearing funny, but I still get the sound. I'm not lifted, or running oversized tires, also, I checked and there is nothing being rubbed, which leads me to believe that something is has worn out. Does anybody know what this might be?

I don't really go off roading, but a road that I commenly travel on is rough on the passenger side. I don't think that it is my CV because I always understood that the CV made a "clicking" or "knocking" noise when it was wearing out. Thanks for the help, Dave

 

welcome to R-F, Dave!

 

It only makes the noise when I turn left. When I'm going straight or stopping I don't hear the noise. Although I think it might be getting worse b/c I think I'm starting to hear it while driving straight.
I just came inside from working on it and when the truck is jacked up I can put my hand on top of the tire and rock it back and forth about an inch. On the driver side I can't do this to the tire. Also, I checked the CV boots and all the bushings that I can see without taking off the rotor and all seem to check out; no cracks, leaks, ect.
So...to access the bearing and hub do I really have to take off torsion bar and drop the lower swing arm? I got a Chilton and it makes it seem like I have to tear that whole side apart just to replace the bearing. Are there any pictures on this forum, or a spot that this was previously discussed?

 

I was also wondering if I drive with this problem, and it is my bearing, am I going to see my tire running away from me when I driving down the road? I live in HI and don't think I will be able to get parts until next weekend, but I still have to get to work. Will it be okay for the week as long as I don't go far or is this something that I should leave the truck in the driveway?

 

I would be getting up early and catching the bus if it is the front wheel bearing. It could fail at a really bad time and ruin your day/truck/life/bystander's life.
...Terry

 

Thanks to everyone who tried to help me out. I didn't really know what was going on with my truck, but upon further investigation I figured out what was the problem and found a forum that was discussing it. It's my wheel bearing, even found a link on a howto, this place is great and everyone is very polite. Thanks