OK I need help!!! I have a growling noise coming from the front of my 2005 Ranger FX4 (drivers side). It starts making the noise at about 29 MPH. It almost sounds like a truck driving beside me with big knarley tires. When I slow down to a stop the noise winds down, I filled the front diff with 90 wt thinking it was low enough to make noise-no differenace in the noise. I bought new tires about 5 months ago, front brakes 4-5 montha ago. I am really worried my tires gonna fall off or something. It started about 1 1/2 weeks ago, It doenst grind, pop, or make any noise as I turn, go to 4high or 4 low. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! You are guru's I hear.

 

If it were a bearing, you'll notice it well before 29mph. It'll growl at you and you'll kind of feel it...especially when turning toward the bad side at low speeds(10-20mph). The weight shifts and lifts the bad side and it'll sound even more horrible. The camber of the questionable tire will also show it's face.....the top of the tire will be inboard of the bottom of the tire.




Best suggestion I can give is jack the truck up and wiggle the tire at 6 & 12 o'clock. Like so:





Video above is an obvious wheel bearing failure. There shouldn't be any play in it.







Check your tire pressures.... Then do the wiggle check above like linked in the video, then get back to us.

 

Ok so after trying everything esle, I took it back to where I got the tires. I was hoping it was the tire cupping or something like that. But it turned out to be the front left hub bearing. So I have to drive it until friday when i can afford to go to O'Riellys and buy a new one. It(the noise) is getting worse now, but no noise on turning or is there and play in the hub as of yet. Thanks all for trying to help with this.

 

If your going to do the cheap bearing save yourself some cash and get them off ebay. They are the same Chinese parts with out the retail mark up.