front differential

2000 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER
159,746 MILES • 5.0L • V8 • AWD • AUTOMATIC
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RAVE2483
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  • 4 POSTS
When I'm driving strait down the road i hear a humming noise from the front & when i turn left & right it makes a rubbing sound... (like my tires are rubbing the wheel well) but i know thats not it... What could be going on?
May 3, 2016 at 12:36 PM
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HMAC300
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 48,601 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
could be a 4wd axle problem like a bearing, a wheel bearing or axle shaft that has worn cv joints.
May 3, 2016 at 3:25 PM
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RAVE2483
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  • 4 POSTS
ok, so i'm not gonna be able to get this fixed for a while due to the lack of money, so... This is (AWD) NOT (4X4)...Is there a way i could disconnect the front wheel drive & just have real wheel drive without damaging anything??
May 3, 2016 at 6:06 PM
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ED-WEEZY21
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 248 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
No you can not disengage front wheel drive on an AWD vehicle. AWD vehicles drive every wheel all the time. This would also not work if it is a wheel bearing. Wheel bearings always rotate no matter what. They can be a press-in type bearing or a wheel bearing hub assembly which is not pressed in. Typically the hub assembly styles are held in by a few bolts and may or may not contain tone rings or slots for the ABS system. It sounds to me like it is a front wheel bearing but without actually hearing it, I can't say for sure. I hope you can find out the source of the problem and best of luck to you!
May 3, 2016 at 7:06 PM
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