My Ranger (99 4x4) just recently started making a front end noise.

When driving I get a 1-2 second g.rind or a slight grind then a clunk. This happens in 2wd, and only about 10 to 15 mins. apart.
Any help is appreciated.

 

? any one ?

 

It sometimes takes more than an hour for a reply....

Try lifting the front wheels off the ground then grab the top and bottom of the tire and see if there's any play in the bearings.

 

Bearings usually don't grind. Could be ball joint or brakes.

 

I was just gonna say brakes....
If your bearings are making noise you have some SERIOUS issues and have neglected them beyond repair but then again I doubt it. start wiggiling parts to find it

 

I know I need lower ball and tie rod end (I have them now).
The brake pads are new (less than 500 miles) rotors 1 1/2 years
The wheel does feel loose from top and bottom.I'm
How were they neglected if they are sealed units and cant be repacked? just trying to learn.

 

how is your alignment on the truck? because with your ball joint and tie rod end shot that could play big factor..if its not a constant noise lik only when you push on the brake then something up with the brakes, if it is constantly makin noise then its most likely your wheel bearing, or when you turn a certain way proly either left or right obviously thats what happened to mine it started to make noise every once in a while when i turned..kinda was puting it off cuz didnt wana dump $200 into a wheel bearing and ended up screwing myself because driving home my wheel bearing pretty much self destructed and half shaft pretty much fell out and messed up everything etc etc..but would def. get evrything fixed up get alignment and go from there.

 

**** i just bought myself a new bearing hub assembly for the front left of my truck, came to a total of $325 canadian

 

thats rough, i think mine was around 250 something dont remeber.

 

Jack it up wheel off the ground like, grab top and bottom of suspected wheel and wiggle, if it moves top to bottom its wheel bearings.
Grab front of wheel and back of wheel (in relation to the truck) and wiggle, if it moves you need a tie rod (inner or outer I can't tell from the computer).


If bearings don't grind then please... tell me what they do?

 

when I pulled the auto hub off, the end of the axle had a fair amount of play side to side and up and down.
Also how do I get the disc off (and the hub assy.)?

 

when I pulled the auto hub off, the end of the axle had a fair amount of play side to side and up and down. The grind is momentary every 10-15 mins.
Also how do I get the disc off (and the hub assy.)?

 

unbolt the caliper and hang it somewhere to take stress off of the line. there are 3 bolts on the back that hold the hub assembly/ bearing unit. mines making a humming noise but there's no play yet

 

I got the hub yesterday, $173 at Advance. Do I need to grease anything or just slide it on and go?
Thanks for the help guys.

 

It can't be greased. unless you put grease where the axle slides into the hub but ur not really doing anything to help the hub

 

Thats what i figured. I did put a touch on the needles inside . It was a painless install. Now onto the tie rod end and balljoint.

 

fyi u can hear bearings going around turns, they make like a howling sound around sharp turns.

edit: similar to the sound of having mud tires.