Hey guys,

My Ranger (04 xlt 4cyl 2.3L) is making a really loud humming noise from what I believe is the front passenger wheel. When I turn right it gets louder, when I turn left it makes no noise at all.

It's been doing this since June althought it's gotten progressively worse. I would have taken it to a shop sooner but I lived in a part of Louisiana that didn't have many, if any mechanics and now, I just don't have the money...

I'm assuming it's a ball joint but wanted to hear what you guys think it might be and how much it might cost to get fixed ?

Thanks

 

Wheelbearing?

 

Driver's side front wheel bearing.
When turning right the weight on the front left is increased.

 

Thank you guys for the reply...

is that expensive to get fixed ? more so or less then replacing a ball joint ?

 

wheel bearing...get it replaced asap

heres the price and Ford PN for the parts i got from alldata

outer wheel bearing PN B5A1216A, $18.30
outer race PN B5A1217B $19.99

inner bearing PN B7C1201A $14.98
inner race PN B7C1202A $29.97

also id replace the hub seal too and do the passenger side as well

 

I was told that I would have to buy the whole hub assembly...

I found this site with a how-to..

How To: Replacing Front Hub / Bearing 1995+ Ford Explorer IFS - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

It's for an Explorer but was hopeful that it was the same or close... Is this a pretty easy fix ? Can someone with really no mechanic experience do this repair or would it be best to take it to a garage ?

 

you only have to replace the whole hub in 4x4s...2wd still have seperate bearings

 

Is there a guide on how to replace them ? Is it a pretty fairly easy thing to do ?

 

a chilton or haynes manual should tell you how to do it

 

So...

I was taking my wife to work yesterday and noticed the the truck was turning really weird.. I don't know how to describ it but it almost felt like it was sliding or gliding around the turns.. I went to check the air in my tires and, I'm embarrassed to say, they were all flat, not just flat but all 4 tires were around 1, 1-1/2 PSI..

After airing up my tires for what seemed like 15 minutes, I hit the road and the constant roar that used to happen when I drove stopped. Now, the noise I was hearing happens only when I turn left. It used to be when I turned right..

Could this still be my wheel bearings or is it the tires ? or hell, could it be something else completely ?

I need tires anyway, the current set I've had since around May of 2009 and I've put almost 40k miles on them and they're the really cheap Primewell 860's I think for the set of 4 I paid under $300 (was totally broke at the time..)

Any thoughts ?

 

wow, 1 to 1 1/2 PSI? That is as low as having a flat, how couldnt ytou have noticed that just walking up to the car by chance?

 

I know it's crazy but they didn't even look flat before i checked them.

 

Just to bump this, Does it sound like it could be the tires or do you think it may still be something to do with the wheel bearings ?

 

Jack the front of the truck up and spin both tires. After your done with that tell us how they feel does one spin harder then the other?

 

Problems fixed.

Turned out to be the Front Passengers wheel bearing. After going to about 5 different shops and being told by them all that they would only replace both wheel bearings or neither, Firestone did it for about $170 with tax.

I didn't think that was too horrible considering some of the stories I've heard about people that have paid $500-$600. It's cruel fate however that now that I have this fixed, I was told my breaks are completely shot and will take $800 to fix (new pads and rotors) It's amazing, I'm right at 119k miles and I've had to replace the rotors 6 times. Is this generally a defect with Rangers ?

I've always heard Rangers typically start falling apart around 120k miles. Anything else and I may consider getting rid of it.

Thanks everyone for your replies !

 

Who ever told you it would cost $800 to replace your breaks see you coming.
There's no shop that should charge you over $250-$275 to replace your pads and rotors.

 

^^ yeah $800 is highway robbery.
shop around and get some estimates.

 

$800 for pads and shoes!?!?!?! Wow major over kill on the price rape batman!!!