- Joined
- Nov 17, 2010
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Kingston, Ontario
- Vehicle Year
- 1997
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Engine Size
- V6 4.0L
- Transmission
- Manual
Just bought a(nother) Ford Ranger, 1997 year, it's 4WD with manual locking hubs. (and the 4.0L 6cyl engine in case that matters). The passenger side front wheel bearing is starting to go. Currently it's making a whirring/buzzing noise. I realize it's gonna need replacing, and I'm shopping around for new parts, but how long can I drive this truck? Not that I'm exactly planning a road trip but I'd like to know if I shoul 'park' it right now and use the car to get to work, or can I still make little routine trips around town.
The only reason I'm a bit paranoid is after witnessing a 2002 Ford Explorer 4WD truck's front wheel bearing go from slight *scritch, scritch* noise to loud truck-shaking buzz within 3 days - and then the wheel CAME OFF while I was driving!! Now, I *did* go and do an online search and discovered that the Exploder's wheels do have a recorded tendency to do this as soon as the wheel bearings "go" - they seize and heat up in short order, which blows the backing plate off the wheel which allows the wheel to strip its own lug nuts off and fall off, too. On the other hand I personally knew a guy who drove around for more than a year with failing wheel bearings on his Mercury Sable.
Can anyone advise me here? I realize there are ?no guaranteed, but I'm kinda curious about the trend overall. How long will wheel bearings last from first audible detection before total failure?
The only reason I'm a bit paranoid is after witnessing a 2002 Ford Explorer 4WD truck's front wheel bearing go from slight *scritch, scritch* noise to loud truck-shaking buzz within 3 days - and then the wheel CAME OFF while I was driving!! Now, I *did* go and do an online search and discovered that the Exploder's wheels do have a recorded tendency to do this as soon as the wheel bearings "go" - they seize and heat up in short order, which blows the backing plate off the wheel which allows the wheel to strip its own lug nuts off and fall off, too. On the other hand I personally knew a guy who drove around for more than a year with failing wheel bearings on his Mercury Sable.
Can anyone advise me here? I realize there are ?no guaranteed, but I'm kinda curious about the trend overall. How long will wheel bearings last from first audible detection before total failure?