"Ringing" noise after commute

[Defective]

Last couple days when I get to town after my 55 mile commute, I can hear a ringing noise when I slow down to a stop.

It becomes audible to me at about 20 mph and as I slow down, it gets quieter until I'm stopped. I can hear it again, barely, when I accelerate 'til the truck overall noise drowns it out again at about 15-20.

After some slower in town driving, it stops. So it seems like something gets hot with the higher speeds of the highway.

Last night on the way home, the last 15 miles or so the truck seemed to have an inconsistant shake/wobble, but that was gone this morning and may have been my imagination or the wind, or something else altogether.

I've been driving with the hubs locked all winter, but don't use 4x4 unless I'm on ice. I avg about 75 mph for those 55 miles of highway commuting. I do this every year.

This morning I decided to unlock the hubs to help track down the problem. I only averaged about 65-70 this morning and when I got to town, no ringing.

So, with that info, does anybody have any guesses to what I'm going to be replacing THIS weekend or specifically what I should check out?

BTW, I have 191,500 mi on the truck now and everything up front minus some ball joints, tie rods and one u-joint is original.... including fluids!!

Thanks!!

 

[Earl43P]

I'd start by changing the front differential and transfer case fluid.

 

[MAKG]

It sounds more to me like a loose brake vent plate (behind the rotors). Maybe a spindle bearing, but I really doubt it.

 

[Defective]

Ok, so I know the fluid is old, but I don't think changing it now is going to make whatever is ringing go away. That is why I mentioned it already. I do plan on changing it soon though.

As for the brakes, I can add to this that I went through the car wash the other day and froze the brakes after parking. I backed out of my parking place at work later and I felt the brakes break free. They were pretty stuck and it was loud and hard when they snapped free. Didn't notice any issues after that. Freezing is nothing new either, they've froze many times before and busted loose seemingly the same way every time. I did peak through the rims at the disc surfaces and whatever else I could see last night, but it all looked.

The noise is weird in terms of the pitch it makes. It does sound a lot like what a dust shield rubbing on a disc would seem sound like, but I think it would probably do this all the time. It only seems to do it when it's been worked hard for a long time. Unfortunalty, thats all I do with this truck is drive the piss out of it on the highway though.

 

[BlackBII]

Hmm, I had a Bronco II a while back that would make a ringing (bell) noise, it would do it all the time though, mainly over bumps...

Turns out, my drivers side front axle shaft had a U joint that was about to break apart, it sounded like a bell ringing everywhere I drove. Doesn't sound like your problem, but somthing to look at, espcially if you have been driving with th hubs locked in.

 

[mhughes165]

is the sound ur hearing a ringing or more likened to a police siren, just asking becuase the synchros in the tranny will make a sound VERY similar to a police sirent when shifting sometimes(buddys ranger did it, first time i rode in his trukc i was like WTF were gettin pulled over for what) lol

 

[Joshs93four-oh]

Next time you are on the highway and the situation gets irritated, get out and check the temperatures of both the front wheels. BE CAREFUL! One wheel may be alot hotter than the other. If one is ALOT hotter than the other, the brakes on the hot side are hanging. Because of the intermittent vibration at speed I suspect a bad/siezed caliper or bad hose and yes, these items can and will and always cause a bad vibration at speed. I have yet to see a paper-thin layer of ice on the brakes actually hold the torque of a vehicle back and then all the sudden let go. Maybe it can happen, but never seen it. Josh
________
VAPIR NO2 REVIEW