2004 Ford Escape hello

2004 FORD ESCAPE
114,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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PEP71
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  • 1 POST
My ? is when I get up to about 25 mph and higher
I can start to hear a winding noise and gets louder the faster i go and when driveing if I turn slightly to the left or right the noise goes away or changes there is very little vibration in the steering wheel or gas peddle ... could this be a drive train or axle bearings and how bad or dangerus is this and how much to $ would it cost to fix IF that is the problem?
Jun 8, 2010 at 3:39 PM
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CARADIODOC
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Hi pep71. Welcome to the forum. This is typical of a noisy wheel bearing. Due to its design, it can not allow the wheel to fall off but the noise will continue to get worse. Repair cost depends on the type of bearing assembly that is used. GM always has used a very expensive assembly that is bolted on. Replacement is fairly easy and inexpensive. Chrysler used a pressed-in bearing that was very inexpensive but it took about an hour to replace it and special tools were needed. In the late '80s, they started switching to the bolt-on style, and by the early '90s all Chrysler vehicles used that type of bearing. Ford stayed with the pressed-in type of bearing much longer but if they finally started using the bolt-on style, you can expect to pay much more for the bearing assembly but less for labor to replace it. An alignment should not be necessary just from replacing the bearing. Chrysler's replacement bearings cost around $100.00 to $150.00. GM's cost about twice that amount. The bolt-on type of bearing costs around $50.00 - 75.00 but they take up to two hours to replace. The bolt-on style takes about an hour to replace.

caradiodoc
Jun 8, 2010 at 5:23 PM