Lord Corn
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2019
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 11
- Points
- 8
- Location
- Nebraska
- Vehicle Year
- 2004
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger XLT
- Engine Size
- 3.0 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 2WD
- Tire Size
- 225/70R15
Hello all, a bit of story time.
Had the 2004 ranger for about 3 weeks now, been running good for less than $1,000 and I'm still happy with the purchase. I was driving to town about 15 miles away, and started to hear a howl at 60mph. Normally the howl doesn't start until 72mph so it was odd but I had been assuming it was a tire issue since they had original balance weights and only 2/32". I wrote it off and continued running errands. On the way back from town I heard an odd sound from, what I thought was the right rear, and I turned down(off) the radio to see if it was music or the car. I heard an intermittent... release of compressed gas? It was like someone trying to use a can of air duster like a semi auto. A few seconds of silence, a halfway thought of maybe it fixed itself, and then a few not good noises, and HARD drag to the right side of the road.
I assumed the tire had popped, no biggie (spare was fixed so that's cool), pulled off, jumped out, looked at the tire and... it's holding pressure. Well shoot. I glance inspected, suspension was good, so I limped it at 25 to the nearest county road. It drove well enough that half mile, so I took gravel back home about 6 miles at 25mph. During this drive I had the occasional squeak and a very rare roaring sound that was as if you were standing at the base of a waterfall with a train going by at the same time. I knew I was doing damage but I was 6 miles from home in nowhere land, a tow would probably have been late late late or the next day and astronomical on the bill. Didn't have time for that.
Got it home, wanted to inspect the tire, bearing, and brakes since suspension was good and the howling was connected to a rotational part somehow. I put the RF up on the jack, grabbed the tire, and had about 1/4" of play in the tire. Ordered new seals and bearings, got them, started work. That outer bearing and washer are welded in there at this point. I am trying everything I can to free them up, no use. Heat, hammer, more heat, nothing. I'm afraid I will have to get the air hammer and grinder out soon. Either way I will start working on it again (I gave up that night when I couldn't get the bearing out) tomorrow morning, so you'll all have an update then.
Had the 2004 ranger for about 3 weeks now, been running good for less than $1,000 and I'm still happy with the purchase. I was driving to town about 15 miles away, and started to hear a howl at 60mph. Normally the howl doesn't start until 72mph so it was odd but I had been assuming it was a tire issue since they had original balance weights and only 2/32". I wrote it off and continued running errands. On the way back from town I heard an odd sound from, what I thought was the right rear, and I turned down(off) the radio to see if it was music or the car. I heard an intermittent... release of compressed gas? It was like someone trying to use a can of air duster like a semi auto. A few seconds of silence, a halfway thought of maybe it fixed itself, and then a few not good noises, and HARD drag to the right side of the road.
I assumed the tire had popped, no biggie (spare was fixed so that's cool), pulled off, jumped out, looked at the tire and... it's holding pressure. Well shoot. I glance inspected, suspension was good, so I limped it at 25 to the nearest county road. It drove well enough that half mile, so I took gravel back home about 6 miles at 25mph. During this drive I had the occasional squeak and a very rare roaring sound that was as if you were standing at the base of a waterfall with a train going by at the same time. I knew I was doing damage but I was 6 miles from home in nowhere land, a tow would probably have been late late late or the next day and astronomical on the bill. Didn't have time for that.
Got it home, wanted to inspect the tire, bearing, and brakes since suspension was good and the howling was connected to a rotational part somehow. I put the RF up on the jack, grabbed the tire, and had about 1/4" of play in the tire. Ordered new seals and bearings, got them, started work. That outer bearing and washer are welded in there at this point. I am trying everything I can to free them up, no use. Heat, hammer, more heat, nothing. I'm afraid I will have to get the air hammer and grinder out soon. Either way I will start working on it again (I gave up that night when I couldn't get the bearing out) tomorrow morning, so you'll all have an update then.