2003 Wheel bearing hum noise? | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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2003 Wheel bearing hum noise?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JBond007
  • Start date Start date
JBond007

JBond007

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Thunderbird Year
2003
Hi, Anyone ever hear a very loud "hum" in rear driving 60-65 mph? My 2003 did this recently. It went away reducing speed. The car has 38,750 miles. Just replaced the ABS Module recently (see my ABS, Trac, Brake post on that). Car has been great and shifting real nice as well. Now this noise. Thinking a rear wheel bearing? Best way to check that out?

Appreciate your knowledge my friends.

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sounds more like a vibration/sonic whine, than a wheel bearing, been many years since I worked on them myself, but I do not remember a wheel bearing getting loud enough to be heard at speed, then just fade away and not return. imho
 
Paladin said:
sounds more like a vibration/sonic whine, than a wheel bearing, been many years since I worked on them myself, but I do not remember a wheel bearing getting loud enough to be heard at speed, then just fade away and not return. imho
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Your description is more accurate on the noise. What could make this noise? I randomly get code P0442 about the evap but wouldn't think the canister could make that noise? I ran BlueDriver, which does all system modules, and no codes relating to anything like transmission or rearend just some EATC ones and one about license light faulty.
 
JBond007 said:
Your description is more accurate on the noise. What could make this noise? I randomly get code P0442 about the evap but wouldn't think the canister could make that noise? I ran BlueDriver, which does all system modules, and no codes relating to anything like transmission or rearend just some EATC ones and one about license light faulty.
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I'd check the wheel balance, as suggested, let them check the bearings while in there, have you done any exhaust work? I does sound like you may have a tire coming apart inside, I never thought of that.
 
More than likely it's the differential transmitting it's normal sounds. And, more than likely, everything is just fine. If you want it to sound like new, then replace the diff bushings.
 
LAMBERTB said:
Could it be tire noise? I suggest take the car to a shop for a tire rotation and balancing if you have not done so recently and ask them to do a wheel bearing inspection.
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The tires have 12,600 miles on them (put on in 2017) and never rotated them. Its worth looking into them and the bearings. I'll put it on the "to do list". Let you know results.
 
Paladin said:
I'd check the wheel balance, as suggested, let them check the bearings while in there, have you done any exhaust work? I does sound like you may have a tire coming apart inside, I never thought of that.
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No exhaust work has be done.
 
Liquidlounge said:
More than likely it's the differential transmitting it's normal sounds. And, more than likely, everything is just fine. If you want it to sound like new, then replace the diff bushings.
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Thank you. That's a spot it could be. May have to look into that as well. I don't need it to sound like new just don't want it to be anything major malfunctioning. I have yet to hear it again. Haven't had a chance to get the car that speed without traveling farther for that road speed. Will post again.
 
I freely admit I'm old and more used to 60 and 70's model vehicles, but in my experience, if your dif is making noise, you have problems, it is NOT normal.
 
Paladin said:
I freely admit I'm old and more used to 60 and 70's model vehicles, but in my experience, if your dif is making noise, you have problems, it is NOT normal.
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Well, differentials do make an incredible amount of noise (relatively speaking) and they are working just fine. In the "60 and 70's", the diffs and axles were isolated from the chassis with leaf or coil springs, so yes, by the time the time you started hearing noise, you had an issue. In the more modern T-Birds case, the IRS diff is bolted to a sub frame and then bolted directly to the car - it is isolated from the car with rubber bushings, both on the sub frame and the diff to the sub frame in our case - all in an effort to quell the abundant differential noise. Once these bushings start to harden and shrink, the normal gear noise starts to creep in - usually not objectionable, but enough to freak out our fellow elders on this site. The Ford 8" in our cars is a a close cousin to the legendary 8.8 that has been in use for decades, so it is plenty robust for the 3.9 V8 and will be about the last thing to go on these cars . Just saying all of this because this comes up a lot on this forum and noises we are hearing are more than likely normal with a car this old.
 
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I took the car to a mechanic and a test drive. He said it was the driver side wheel bearing and suggested replace both fronts. So we did that with aftermarket (MasterPro) hub assy's. The hum noise has been reduced greatly but not gone. They said my tires since they are from 2016 are hardened should be changed. They have 12,000 miles on them and look brand new. No cracks in sidewalls or any other visible signs. I do need to change all the front suspension bushings/grease boots since they have long gone by the wayside years ago but never got it done and didn't have problems. Nothing appears to be worn out metal wise. I had them give me the old hubs for my collection. I still have the original Michelins too. I did not rotate the tires and maybe I should have but forgot. Any thoughts?
 
Glad you found the problem with the wheel bearing. As Biddle has posted many times, with these cars, age can be as much a cause for problems as mileage. The cars need to be driven to maintain road worthy. Tires also have a "shelf life" I replaced my last set with less than 8000 miles on them, but they were five years old.
 
LAMBERTB said:
Glad you found the problem with the wheel bearing. As Biddle has posted many times, with these cars, age can be as much a cause for problems as mileage. The cars need to be driven to maintain road worthy. Tires also have a "shelf life" I replaced my last set with less than 8000 miles on them, but they were five years old.
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When I spin the wheel bearing it doesn't sound bad but maybe under duress it does on the car. I drive the car at least once/twice a week (10-15 miles) so it gets movement. I bought the tires in PA and now living in Florida for 5 years may have put more heat/drying on the tires. It is garage kept as a norm.
 
All good!! I ran out and had the tires rotated front to back to test if they would make the last bit of difference and yes they did! Discount Tire rotated them for free (their norm) so it was worth checking that out. He said tires looked good considering the 9 yr age. I asked for a quote on 4 new ones and will eventually change them out.

Thank you all again for your help!
 
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