My 2000 Eplorer LTD (49.5K) generates a grinding noise and vibrates midly when I turn left or right from a stop. A turn of less that about 60 degrees does not result in any noise. These symptoms do not happen when I coast around any corner nor when accelerating straight from a stop. They only happen when accelerating from a stop, around a corner. However, it DOES NOT always happen and seems to be worse when carrying a couple hundred pounds of cargo in the back (I do not trailer).

The noise sounds a little like a tire might when rubbing against the frame. The vibration (mild) "feels" as if it is from behind the front seats. I have checked in each wheel well and examined each tire. I can find no evidence of the tires showing any unusual wear or evidence of rubbing against anything.

The FORD dealer worked on it yesterday and declared it fixed by identifying old, low power steering fluid as the culprit. Fifteen minutes after leaving the dealer with a flushed and newly filled power steering resevoir . . . yep, it was back. The dealer tech had all this info.

Any thoughts or clues before I return to the dealer?

Thanks, Bob

My 2003 Explorer is experiencing a similar noise. When making a turn from a complete stop, there is a vibration/rubbing/grinding noise that sounds like it is coming from the rear of the vehicle. It does not sound like it is coming from the wheels, more of the center of the vehicle, but I will check the wheel bearings to be sure.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Ford has a TSB concerning this problem. I will try to remember to look at the shop tomorrow. For starters, you may want to bleed the steering system to see if that helps any.

Finally got the site to come up. The TSB's are for earlier production models. I can't locate any fou your model year. To purge the air, jack up and safely support front end. Disable the fuel system so it will not start. Crank engine and turn the wheel all the way to right. Turn off key and lock wheel all the eway to right. Remove power steering cap and look for foamy fluid. Wait for fluid to clear and repeat cranking to the left and lock. Keep doing this until there is no foamy looking fluid in the reservoir. Then drive it to see if it helped.

Does this happen only under hard acceleration or all the time when turning hard from stop? If only under hard acceleration it may be a bad U-joint in the front end, because if you accelerate hard enough the auto 4 wheel drive kicks in, and then you would hear a problem in the u-joint. The only problem is that this would cause vibration in the front. If this is a all wheel drive model it may be a problem in the differential in the transfer case, because when you turn sharply this differential must compensate for the front wheels traveling greater distance. My last idea is a problem in the rear diffential because when turning the rear tires rotate at different speeds and if there were low fluid, or problems with the spider gears or clutches this could cause vibration. Hope this give you some starting points.

If the problem is heard from the rear of the vehicle and you have a locking differential, "L" on the ID tag. Than your problem exists with your clutches in the rear diff. not disengaging. You can spend over 400 dollars and have the clutches replaced or try this. HAve you local dealership drain teh rear diff, add 2 bottles of Friction Modifier and top off the rear end with 75 140w synthetic gear lube. Now the problem will not go away immedietly as it will take time for the clutches to get saturated with the modifier. but this has worked in the past on numerious exploders.

There have been posts on the forum about transfer case problems too. That would be another place to check. You can search this forum for more details.

For future posters to the topic with questions, please let us know if you have full-time AWD or if it's the Automatic 4WD system.

-Rod

In case others have the problem, I will fill you in on what my local dealer stated. Technicians decided that the clutchbox needed replacement.
The noise steadily got worse over time, so I decided to have a professional check it out.

In case others have the problem, I will fill you in on what my local dealer stated. Technicians decided that the clutchbox needed replacement.
The noise steadily got worse over time, so I decided to have a professional check it out.
Clutchbox? Where at, do you mean in the transfer case?