Loud repetitive noise coming from front tire in 2 wheel drive, goes away when in 4 wheel drive.
Had my tires rotated before a long trip (~120 miles). The mechanic noted "both right side ball joints loose".
No problem on my way there, but coming back a noise started coming from the front tires. When I switched to 4 wheel drive, the noise went away. I drove about 50 miles in 4 wheel drive on dry pavement at ~40 mph and noticed a smell like burning rubber or something similar. When I looked in the driver side tire area, there was some kind of liquid film that seemed to be leaking/spraying. I switched back to 2 wheel drive and put up with the noise for the rest of the trip.
No problem on my way there, but coming back a noise started coming from the front tires. When I switched to 4 wheel drive, the noise went away. I drove about 50 miles in 4 wheel drive on dry pavement at ~40 mph and noticed a smell like burning rubber or something similar. When I looked in the driver side tire area, there was some kind of liquid film that seemed to be leaking/spraying. I switched back to 2 wheel drive and put up with the noise for the rest of the trip.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thank you for writing in. Chances are there was an existing issue that was amplified by the tire rotation. There are several parts that will cause similar symptoms. You will want to consider the parts that are under load in 4wd, that are free when in 2wd. This would include the axle and sveral joints. There are a couple of tests that can be done. More damage was likely done driving on dry pavement in 4wd. It was a good step in diagnostics, but should be avoided. For more help with diagnosing the sounds, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Uneven wear is a leading cause of tire noises because contact between the road and uneven tires isn`t uniform. The unbalanced tread depths cause tires to emit loud noises while driving. Usually, you`ll hear sounds caused by uneven wear coming from one tire. Alignment issues can also cause tire noises.
A worn wheel bearing can cause a howling noise. If you`re also hearing a rumbling noise when turning, then it`s likely a bad wheel bearing. You may also trace this noise to a loose pinion-bearing preload. It`s likely the case when you only hear the noise when decelerating.
Humming noise can also be due to worn out bearings, which need to be replaced. A noise that gets louder while you`re vehicle is accelerating, probably means that there is heavy contact of the pinion-gear teeth on the outer ends of the ring-gear teeth (pinion gear not set deep enough).
A common cause of grinding noises under your car are failing wheel or hub bearings. Wheel bearings allow the wheel and tire to rotate and are designed for low friction, while hub assemblies have an additional responsibility of securing the wheel and tire to the vehicle.
, it is unsafe to drive your vehicle. While you may be able to eke as many as a 1,000 miles out of a bad wheel bearing, ignoring the problem for too long can have serious safety consequences—including one of your wheels stopping without warning while you`re driving.
Like any other tire, noise reduction tires can be repaired although there are additional steps, which require removal and replacement of the sound-absorbing material.
The front-end clunking noise you hear when driving over a road bump means that a part of the suspension is faulty or malfunctioning. Get your mechanic to look out for or check the mentioned parts to ensure the clunking noise stops, or do it yourself if you are confident in your tinkering abilities.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Loud repetitive noise coming from front tire in 2 wheel drive, goes away when in 4 wheel drive.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Chances are there was an existing issue that was amplified by the tire rotation. There are several parts that will cause similar symptoms. You will want to consider the parts that are under load in 4wd, that are free when in 2wd. This would include the axle and sveral joints. There are a couple of tests that can be done. More damage was likely done driving on dry pavement in 4wd. It was a good step in diagnostics, but should be avoided. For more help with diagnosing the sounds, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Can front wheel drive car engine power rear wheel drive
ANSWER : Anything is possible with enough engineering. The changes you are looking at would take major structural changes and would definitely not be an easy job. You could possibly consult a manufacturing engineer to get more details on how this could actually be carried out and whether it would be feasible.
I own a 2000 f150 lariat 4 x4. 5.4 l. Started getting a loud grinding noise front passager brakes. Replaced brakes and wheel
ANSWER : Hi there. While using junkyard or used parts (especially brake or suspension parts) is highly discouraged and can cause major damage, it is unlikely that they caused the aluminum wheel to split in half. In most cases, this is caused by hitting a pothole or other obstruction in the road. A glancing blow against a blunt object like a curb can also cause this type of damage. However, if the brakes came apart or a brake component broke, it could in theory cause the same damage. My advice to you is to not drive the vehicle further until you’ve replaced the brakes and wheels with new components for safety.
I hear a loud clicking noise on the drivers side by my tire rim when turning the steering wheel front tires vibrating as well.
ANSWER : A clicking noise on turning is very characteristic of a failed outboard CV axle joint. Sometimes, in such a circumstance, you can see that the rubber outboard boot is actually torn and leaking grease. If you see that (look behind the wheel toward the axle end), the axle for sure will have to be serviced. If you change the axle, be sure to install a new rubber seal on the transmission output side so that you do not have transmission fluid leaks with the new axle (a common mistake is to overlook that seal; if an old, left-in-place seal leaks after the axle is put in the job has to be done all over again). Vibration without actual shaking of the steering wheel "might" be related to the axle issue. On the other hand, such vibration could also be due to a failed wheel bearing, especially with over 200,000 miles on the vehicle and if those are the original bearings. If you were to need both an axle and a wheel bearing at the same time, and on the same side, that’s actually not that bad because the steering knuckle that holds the wheel bearing has to come off anyway to replace the axle. But, backing up here, the very first thing to do is get the issue properly diagnosed so you spend the minimum possible. If you want to obtain a diagnostic, please request a vehicle CV/wheel bearing noise inspection and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
The service 4 wheel drive light comes on in my 05 Chevy Silverado 1500 HD
ANSWER : It is not likely that damage will occur or is occurring. Generally, it’s only if the check engine light is actually flashing that you can reasonably expect damage. As far as whether what you are describing is a "known issue" or not, there are many GM Technical Service Bulletins for your year, make and model that refer to the Service 4WD indicator. A brief list of these TSB’s appears below. If you desire that a certified Mechanic inspect your vehicle and determine if any of the below TSB’s are applicable or, if not applicable, simply pinpoint the problem, please request a warning light diagnostic.
GM Manufacturer Communication Number: 05-04-21-003 (TSB)
SERVICE 4WD LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) C0374 SET. INSPECT WIRING HARNESS TO TRANSFER CASE SPEED SENSORS, REPLACE WIRING HARNESS.
GM Manufacturer Communication Number: 3137
SERVICE 4WD LIGHT ON AND NO COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE.
GM Manufacturer Communication Number: 3134B
SERVICE 4WD INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE CO327.
GM Manufacturer Communication Number: 3352
SERVICE 4WD LIGHT ON WITH EITHER A VARIETY OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES OR NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE.
GM Manufacturer Communication Number: 3526
INTERMITTENT SERVICE 4WD LIGHT COMES ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) C0306 OR C0308 STORED IN TCCM.
Rubbing noise coming from the front driver’s side tire. What could be the problem?
ANSWER : The wheel hub bearing could be getting noisy or the scraping noise could be caused by the brake pad material. The most common cause of such noise is when the metallic material in the brake pad makes a scraping noise when brakes are not being applied and then it becomes noisier when the brakes are applied.
Bad or faulty lower control arm bushings will cause the noise to resonate through the frame and body of the car when compared to good rubber bushings that would normally isolate most of the noise.
First, get a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to replace the control arm bushings and check the brakes for any cracks in the brake pad material and excessive metal material in the pads that can cause the noise. At the same time, get the wheel hub bearings checked for noise and replaced, if necessary.
loud hum coming from the front tires when driving on highway
ANSWER : Hello. The brake caliper hanging up can cause the noise you are hearing. If the caliper is causing the brake pads to drag, this will occur. It can also be caused by a bearing failing, which will cause the noise and the caliper to hang up. Most commonly though, it is caused by a tire that is wearing unevenly. If the tire has some odd wear from lack of rotation or from a worn out strut, then this noise can happen. I usually check the tires first and even cross rotate them to see if the noise changes. If it remains the same, then the tires are not the issue. If the shop does not fix it correctly, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose the noise and let you know exactly what’s going on.
Sudden play & random tugging in steering wheel. Hear clicking from steering wheel & front left tire both while driving straight.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Checking the brakes was a great place to start. At this point the first thing we need to find out is if symptoms happen always, or only when driving over bumpy roads. If you feel it only when going over bumps, you want to check the suspension. If the suspension is not up to par on the vehicle, you will feel and fight those forces in the steering wheel. You can perform a bounce test, and do a visual inspection to see if the suspension shows any signs of leakage or damage. This would include the ball joints. If the suspension seems to be okay, you want to turn your attention to the rack and pinion. For more help with diagnostics and resolving the issue, contact our service department.
