Humming noise from front end - tires or hubs

David Boer · Dec 30, 2011

Happy Holidays everyone! I am posting as this site is always a wealth of knowledge and has always helped me track down the issues with my sporttrac. This have consisted of the infamous leaking intake gasket causing stalling/running rough in cold weather, the sticking iac, etc.

I have had a noise coming from the front end for quite some time. It is a whirling noise that comes with the rotation of the tires and can be heard after getting above a few mph. I have a 2001 2WD job1. Even though it is a 2WD I have rulled out the drivetrain by driving in neutral and the sound remains. I have also tried turning the wheel left and right while driving to see if the noise changes, but it does not.

The tires are not chewed up on the insides, or wearing funny, but the noise always seems to get slightly better (never gone though) after rotating the tires.

I have read a few posts that there may not be adjustments for the front end alignment in this model year in 2WD. Anyone have any suggestions as to whether I may be looking at a bad hub, or an alignment (camber, caster, toe) issue? The truck does not pull to either side and the as I mentioned before, the tires are not wearing uneven, or getting chewed up.

Any suggestions on next steps to resolve this issue would be appreciated.

Happy New Year!

EddieS'04 · Dec 30, 2011

2wd doesnt have hubs. The wheel bearings are in the rotor.

Have you ever had them serviced?

Cant tell you if it is a tire. I would need to see them.

Todd Thorne · Dec 31, 2011

check for tire cupping. I had same problem, after replacing both front hubs and tie rods ( they needed changing ) I stll had a humming noise ( especially when coming to a stop ) I thought was still in drive line, but after tire rotation was much less, ran hand back and forth across treads and one tire was cupping pretty good. New shocks where next and have helped a lot, and if you have not already done so put new shocks on, big difference!

EddieS'04 · Dec 31, 2011

check for tire cupping

Can cause humming depending on tread pattern. My experiance,cupping will only hum at highway speeds, depending on tread patern. Thumps at low speeds.

Gavin Allan · Dec 31, 2011

Cupping or some other abnormal treadwear.

Get a complete four-wheel alignment, tire balance, and if you have OEM shocks with any mileage, or replacement shocks over 30,000, you probably need new shocks too.