Pinion Bearing LOUD

[R***A**N**G**E***R]

So we had a blizzard the other day and got about a foot of snow and of course I was driving around all day in 4x4 hi, anyways I noticed a noise at about 25-30 mph during acceleration and the same noise during deceleration around the same speed so I took my truck into the place I recently had all my ball joints tie rods and wheel bearings done the the mechanice took it for a test drive with me and he immediately said ( pinion bearing ).

The truck does not make the noise while not in 4 wheel drive because the bearing is located in the front differential anyways the mechanice said it would probably go a long time with this noise and there is no RUSH to get it fixed and he did not pressure me in the least to get it right in and tear into it, he seemed to be very honest and no bull shit, so should I get this fixed ASAP or is he correct that I could live with the noise for a while with out harming anything?

 

[doorgunner]

That'd be up to you....if it's REALLY the pinion bearing (and not the u-joint) it would be better to change it before it starts chipping off small pieces of metal which will damage everything else inside the housing....

 

['99 EB Explorer]

What kind of noise is it making? My truck has been making this wild howling noise since I bought it. It matches vehicle speed, but changes pitch depending on where your foot is on the gas. I was originally told pinion bearing, but now someone else insists that it's a wheel bearing.

 

[03ranger4x4]

What kind of noise is it making? My truck has been making this wild howling noise since I bought it. It matches vehicle speed, but changes pitch depending on where your foot is on the gas. I was originally told pinion bearing, but now someone else insists that it's a wheel bearing.

If the noise is coming up front, if it is actually the wheel bearing...in a safe area drive at a typical road speed and swerve (not violently, but as if you were changing lanes, with a little bit more force) As you are turning, the noise should change volume or pitch if its a wheel bearing.

Ive replaced both front wheel bearings on my ranger each at a different time since both didnt fail exactly at the same time....and they both would change pitch when ever you turned while driving at road speeds. The first one i actually let get so bad it made a sound similar to an iceburg scrapping this hull of ship when you were coasting in a parking lot. Try not to let it get this bad, becuase after inspection, the wheel was VERY loose, and it had lost like half the bearings out on the road, lol.

 

[R***A**N**G**E***R]

What kind of noise is it making? My truck has been making this wild howling noise since I bought it. It matches vehicle speed, but changes pitch depending on where your foot is on the gas. I was originally told pinion bearing, but now someone else insists that it's a wheel bearing.

Mine does NOT make noise while in 2 wheel drive!!

You sound like you have a loose or dry wheel bearing!!