97 taurus makes grinding noise after 20 mph

[Schaff68]

Hello, I am new to the forum here. I have done searches befor and have read some of the advice given here on the forums, so i decided to finaly join. I hope to both learn and try to share car knowledge.
What i have is a 1997 Taurus, It developed a grinding noise that comes in from 20 mph and up, it does not change turning either way, it does not change during braking or speeding up, or braking, freewheeling or speeding up in a turn, either up hill, down hil, or on flat ground. I have checked both front wheel bearings, they are tight, no play or wobble, both seem smooth, rear has no play and both wheels roll smooth, brakes are fine. Axles are fine. I dont notice the engine moving anymore then usual.
I know bad motor mounts may cause a grinding type vibration noise and a bad tire can cause weird noises to, but tires look ok, no cupping or feather edging. I havnt noticed a seperation bulge, but i also know a tire can start to seperate from the inner ply cords.
So has anyone got any ideas,or have this happen, i havnt got the car up on a lift yet to make sure its not a motor mount.
Your ideas or advice is more then welcome.

[inafogg]

where does it sound like its coming from??
front end,middle,or in back,left or right side??

[Schaff68]

You cant really tell which side, I have drove it with the windows down, over and over, but its a dull faint rough grinding noise that comes in at 20 mph and gets alittle bit louder as you go faster.

[Schaff68]

I guess it does seem to be more centered while in the car while driving to were you cant tell which side or end its coming from. which may be a motor mount or tire and the sound is traveling

[Schaff68]

onley thing i have found so far is my driver side inner tie rod needs replaced. i changed the front pads on the car because i was checking the front end again, the bearings feel fine, both sides are tight. what i did notice, when i am driving around 30-40 mph and go around a long sweeping or even a sharp left turn, the sound goes away, when i go straight again, the sound comes back, and it still makes the grinding type noise around right turns. could it be the loose driver side inner tie rod that is setting up the noise.

[shorod]

That doesn't seem like a noise that could be caused by an inner tie rod end. Are you sure the play is in the tie rod end and not in the wheel bearing? Your symptoms are sounding more like a wheel bearing. Maybe by the end of the week they'll exactly match a wheel bearing sound. Since the sound seems to go away on sharp left turns, that would suggest a left (driver's side) wheel bearing - same side as the suspect inner tie rod end.

Of course if the inner tie rod end is loose, you could change it anyway for safety reasons and see if the noise goes away. If not and there's any play in the wheel, then consider the wheel bearing next.

-Rod

[Willyum]

A bad bearing can be hard to find, they don't always have slack or play.

[65comet]

If it is your bearings, here is a Thread with tips from when I did my 98.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=688353

[Schaff68]

the driver inner tie does have some play in it, it is the onley part in the steering and suspension with play in it and it needs replaced , i also know a bearing can get rough but not loose, but after awhile it will become loose, its one of those odd things that with the car up in the air, the bearings have no play and feel smooth rolling tires with it in nuetral. so i figure, replace what i know needs replaced and go from there, i have replaced the driver side befor, about 5 years ago. and i have read that some guys onley get acouple years out of the cheap hub bearings. i am going to check out the front engine mount to just for piece of mind.

[Schaff68]

i already have the inner tie rod and rented the tool to change it, i am replacing it tomorrow and going to ask a friend to go with me when i return the tool so i have a extra set of ears to listen. i am also thinking of removing the caliper and rotor when the car is in the air , then turn the hub , it may help

[Schaff68]

i changed the inner tie rod end, didnt need the tool i rented, my 97 taurus takes a big wrench, i used a 1 5/16 box end. i then took it out for a drive, there still is a slight grinding or rough sound now from 20-25 mph or above but not near as bad with all the steering parts in good shape, i am just going to keep driving it until it becomes loose and i know for sure

[Schaff68]

problem is fixed, i found a really nice 2001 Ford Expedition XLT 4X4 , so i traded in the taurus, problem solved

[shorod]

That was an awfully expensive fix! Enjoy, and good luck with the Expedition! Better map out the gas stations along your daily commute.

-Rod

[Schaff68]

Shorod, it isnt to bad, i knew looking at the Expedition that it was going to be harder on gas then the Taurus, but after having a 88 Towncar and a 85 F150 4x4 with a 351W automatic a few years ago, that i restored, and added a Edelbrock carb and intake on a long block crate motor with a mild torque cam, but still ending up around 11-12 mpg around town,that it wouldnt be to much of a shock driving the Expid. I also have a 2000 Ranger XLT 4x4 ext cab 3.0 auto with 90k on it ,that i installed manual hubs on that isnt to bad on gas. I pretty much went with the Expedition, because of the 1/2 ton truck like realiability , room, comfort, and mainy 4x4 ,which is needed to get up my hill in the winter.
And yes, i know were the gas stations are around here already, even the ones i get the best mpg from. LOL.
The taurus did end up being the drivers side front hub bearing , AGAIN, after being changed just shy of 20k miles ago. plus i found a few other things that were close to needing replaced, but the car done me well up to the 189k , i would have brought home another Taurus if i could have found one that didnt need a bunch of work to drive it. they are great cars that i will still swear by.

[shorod]

Gotcha. I'm sure you'll be pleased with the Expedition. It's interesting that the bearings are not lasting long.

I guess you could have picked up a new Taurus SHO with AWD and some snow tires for the winter....

-Rod