front left making a weird sound (wop wop wop)

[calebrk]

I have a 4x4 94 ranger. I just had new wheels and tires put on last week. Not immediately after, but about a day after, this sound started. It progressively got worse. I have to drive my truck to high school every day and im getting scared to drive it. I just took the hub off and saw that the small black rubber seal was torn into three pieces and one piece was completely out of its channel. I got the seal back in its place, and drove it, but the noise is still there.

The noise is definitely a pulse that speeds up as the truck speeds up. It seems like its says "whop" each tire rotation.

A mechanic i know mentioned it could be a bearing somewhere? what would this be and how do i check it?

thanks for the help

 

[Yellowsplash]

Were the tires balanced when mounted?

First, Make sure the lugnuts are tight (~100 ft/lbs)....

Second, jack tire up and check for play or slop. Its possible for the spindle nuts to back off...or more commonly, the wheel bearings could be toast.
Inspect them to ensure this is your problem. If soo, make sure to replace wheel bearings, races, and seal and torque the spindle nuts to spec following the manual instructions.

 

[mkpecor]

i think you have a bad wheel bearing, they will make that same noise your talking about.

 

[metalmacguyver]

A defective tire could also cause that sound. It got louder as the tire broke in. Try rotating the tires side for side and see if the sound moves.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

Like above, it sounds like either an improperly balanced tire or the wheel bearings are done for.

 

[calebrk]

Thanks everyone for the help. It was the bearings. they were SHOT. A friend of mine, a mechanic, helped me replace them and the truck rides like a cadilac now. By the way, although i would have sworn it was the left front tire from the sounds being made....it was actually the right front.

thanks again