I have a '99 mazda b3000. From what I can tell its a ranger.
I was driving it, took a turn started down the road and heard LOUD grinding/crunching sound. Hitting brake did not alter the sound but slowing down made the sound slower. Then it went away (lasted a few seconds). The sound came back after another turn and went away. Once I got up to speed the sound was almost gone but intermittently I could here a quiet grinding sound that would last less then a second.

The sound is not happening during the turn but seemed to happen shortly after a turn.

Its not a grinding sound like brake pads worn down to the rivets. Its louder I actually thought something big and metal was dragging under the truck.

I got it home jacked it up to check for play in the wheel, thought maybe a bad bearing but it felt solid holding tire at 12 and 6 and trying to move it.

Any ideas or help is appreciated, I'm stumped

 

i was going to say bearings but you say they are good. is the truck 2wd or 4wd .

 

Its 4wd /w abs.

 

Check all the cv joints and their connections . Also check the front diff

 

I had a long day at work so did not have time to check much but its been bugging me so I poked under there and saw a lot of oil.

there are a few drips on my garage floor which is not normal for the truck it appears to be just boil not transmission fluid or anything like that I'll look more at it tomorrow any thoughts?

 

Is the truck automatic

 

yes its an automatic

 

sounds like your crankshaft bearings failed and damaged the auto tranny flex plate

 

Anything ever come of this? Mine is also doing this replaced my locking hubs fixed it for a few weeks until it destroyed them now doing it with no kind of 4wd hub. Mine is manual though.

 

check your front axle carrier bearings , they may be shot