2001 Sport Trac Winding Noise

[ddresser13]

My sport trac is making a winding noise after you pass 20mph. If you let off the accelerator the noise stops until you gas it again. To me it sounds like there is low gear oil in the gear boxes, however I had them checked and all is well. So, my next assumption is the drive shaft being out of balance or the u-joints are bad. Has anyone heard of this before? I'm planning on changing the u-joints to see if that works but, I"d rather pin point the issue rather than using the process of elimination. Thanks

[denisb]

Most times there'll be loose at U-joints if they are bad. That might be one way to check them if you haven't already.

[ddresser13]

Yeah, I have gotten under there and shook the driveshaft trying to see if they were loose but, none of them moved. I've broken a few u-joints before on the trails in my K5. So, I was wondering if I had missed something. Nevertheless, if thats not the winding noise then I have no idea because I have checked everything that I know of. What else is there that I'm missing? What else could possibly cause that noise to sound like a fast spinning sound when I accerlerate and be very faint when I let off the throttle?

[denisb]

Is it from the back or the front? Tires can cause funny noises if they wear wrong, rear bearings, if it's comming from the front....vacume leak....although it would be more of a hiss than a winding noise.

Does it come and go when you go over a knoll in the road keeping a constant speed?

[shorod]

There have been quite a few complaints on this forum regarding rear wheel bearings causing noises that may be what you are describing. I believe the 2001 model year is one of the years effected.

Try searching this forum, using the "Search this forum" link in the upper right of the Explorer forum main page for the key words "rear wheel bearing" or similar.

-Rod

[ddresser13]

Dennis- It's coming from there rear of the vehicle for sure. But It cannot be the bearings because I have already pulled them out and inspected them both sides. Now what I'm coming up with is that it is not the tires, It has to be the rear pumpkin because after all the trouble shooting thats the only thing left other than the TSF. case, which the tranny and TSF. case are full with fluid. I'm going to take off the diff cover on Friday so I"ll be getting back with this post to give my results.

[ddresser13]

Shorod - thanks for the help I'm going to start looking on my lunch break

[ddresser13]

I pulled it apart and found no problems at all....back to square one

[ddresser13]

Found out the problem......It's coming from the Ring and Pinion in the rear pumpkin.....I'm having it replaced this week.......The teeth on the ring are worn badly and not making great connection on the the pinion which in turn is make a honing sound coming from the pumpkin

[shorod]

That's a bummer, but thank you for posting the findings and hopefully that will take care of the noise!

-Rod