'02 LS Road Noise

[rt2barbers]

My '02 LS with 124K miles has a noise coming from the driver's side front suspension area that is similar in quality and loudness to a bad wheel bearing. The noise does not vary with a change in direction. The noise first appeared faintly and gradually grew in intensity.
I just replaced the hub assembly because the wheel had play on the spindle. The hub was new from Team Ford. This eliminated the play but not the noise.
I have rotated, balanced, and aligned with no change in the noise.
Has anybody experienced a quieter car by replacing spring/shock mounts and isolators?

 

[GSXRDUDE]

I know nothing about working on cars and never did more than replace a wiper blade back in 1987. I had the same issues up until 2 hours ago. Check no cost items first. Put car on jacks or ramps, make sure caliper bolts are tight, they are on the inside of the hub, check lug nuts, look at bushings, then pray.

 

[rt2barbers]

Noise

Thanks, GSX. All the "no cost" items are torqued-up tight. I'm still thinking that the coil/shocks have lost isolation.

 

[Outkast]

Are you positive its coming from that side? I really don't see how shocks can cause road noise that sounds like a wheel bearing...could it be brakes rubbing...or a bent splash guard behind the rotor?

 

[#1fordfan]

had a similar noise from what I thought was the right rear wheel bearing, turned out to be the left front wheel bearing. the plastic cover on the back of the bearing was cracked and the bearing was failing.
very hard to diagnose which end the noise might be coming from as the noise can transmit through the car.
good luck.

 

[rt2barbers]

Noise

Outkast, Thanks. I didn't mean that the coil spring/shock assemblies were "creating" noise, just that they may be conducting spindle rotational noise because of loss of isolation at the upper mount. My "bright" idea comes from seeing the availability mount replacement parts. The parts are non-metallic and seem to be for sound isolation.

#1 Fordfan, LOL. I agree totally that the noise may be from somewhere else. I appreciate the feedback!

 

[pektel]

+1 on what fordfan said too. I misjudged which side I needed to replace concerning my front wheel bearing. I replaced the wrong side. I just like to think of it as "preventative maintenance" lol.

 

[GSXRDUDE]

Left Tie Rod or Bushing on sway bar.