Just started this morning after the 1st freezing night this season It seems like the wheel spinning causing this squeek. The squeek is VERY loud and sound exactly like a typical car alarm (high pitched siren). Wee-ooo wee-ooo.... When I slow down each note (weee and ooo) get longer and at 1-5mph turn into continuous note. It is most definitely directly related wheels spinning or driveshaft or something. I hoped it'd go away on its own but right now it's just getting louder. I ran the truck 5 times today. And one time the noise was briefly gonr but came back.

No other symptoms. Any ideas?

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2WD or 4x4? Which side of the car is it coming from? Could be a wheel bearing going bad.

 

4WD. Hard to say but I think it's left side. It still persists. I can't hear anything the first 10-15 minutes driving when the truck is relatively cold but then it gets bad. Also I noticed just now if I turn the steering wheel when making a sharp turn it kind of goes away, I think.

 

Yup Wheel bearing going bad. Get it fixed soon before it lets go and cause more damage.

 

Thanks, will get on it asap.

 

UPDATE: replaced both wheel bearings and brakes.

Didn't help. Still squealing. Over the past few months it got quieter and got coarser as if whatever is rubbing got rougher, but that's it, it's still there.

 

What year is your 4WD Ranger? Some years had a seal that runs against the inside face of the stub axle. It is called an Excluder Seal. This seal is known to squeal if not properly lubed. It is normally replaced when the hub with the bearings is replaced. They are difficult to find these days too. If it is not broken it can be packed with high temp grease to lubricate the sliding surface.

Some people have had the squeal come back after replacing. I have found it is very important to clean and polish the surface it runs against and liberally pack the seal with grease to keep it from squeaking. Some have just broken it, so it is not rubbing against the stub axle. It is basically a dust seal and helps to keep the bearing clean in dusty conditions. Mine ran a long time broken without causing a real problem. I did have to replace the right hub with the bearings with the excluder seal at almost 280k miles. The left hub still has the original bearings and has a broken excluder seal. I bought spares when I replaced the right side so I would not have to do an extensive search again for the excluder seal when the left bearings go out.

 

2000 B3000. Can I go to any auto shop and ask them to grease it from under or does this require taking the whole hub assembly apart?

 

I have heard of spraying a lubricant in that area, but it is not a long term fix. As I indicated before, cleaning and polishing the hub contact face is important. Since you have installed new hubs, just a good cleaning should be enough. I don't know how the seal could be packed with grease without having the hub off and the removal of the hub is also needed to clean that face.

The most important thing at this point is to determine if you have that seal, if it is intact and if it is causing the squeal. One way to do that is spray a good lube in that area while turning the wheel. Make sure not to get lube on the rotor. I would use something better than WD-40, but it might be good enough to determine if the seal is making the squeal.

You may have the vacuum pulse hubs. I don't know if they have that seal.

 

Thank you.