SHO making an "warped rotor" sound but brakes are fine... Wheel bearing?

jimmyducati · February 12, 2014, 02:44:52 PM

My '10 SHO started making a warped rotor occulting sound a couple weeks ago and its gotten progressively worse in the last few days. I don't think its the brakes because i don't feel anything in the brake pedal and also have no feedback in the steering wheel, both are smooth under all driving conditions. It sounds like a wheel bearing that has gone bad... Is this a common problem with the SHO, and would this be covered on the Ford Certified Pre-Owned 100k mile power/drivetrain warranty?

I took the car through the mountains in north GA last fall and heard a sound similar to this after BLASTING down the tail of the dragon.. figured the front wheel bearings got a bit warm, stopped for lunch and the sound was gone when we got underway again. Now the sound is back full time...

yowen · February 12, 2014, 03:20:38 PM

I had a wheel bearing replaced at about 50k miles, it was covered under powertrain warranty. My car would make noise on the highway when I went straight, and increased as I veered left and all but went away as I veered right.

A warped rotor I usually feel rather than hear. The car tends to surge as you stop as it brakes less/more/less/more very quickly.

So as to the actual cause, does the sound occur during any driving condition, at speed, while turning?

shoman04 · February 12, 2014, 03:25:56 PM

How many miles do you have on you PTU oil change? My PTU went out at 60k and it was making noise like that at the beganing.

jimmyducati · February 12, 2014, 03:26:30 PM

Car makes the sound all the time at speeds above 10-15 mph. Im 99% sure its a wheel bearing, but this is my first AWD car so Im a bit unfamiliar with how the front end goes together with axles and all so I thought posing the ? here would get me an awnser.. Good to know you had it replaced under the power train warranty..

Now, should I reload the factory tune before taking it in to be looked at?
Anyone know of a "tune friendly" service dept in the Louisville Kentucky area?

jimmyducati · February 12, 2014, 03:28:16 PM

That looks nasty!! It is distinctly coming from the right front corner, so I have doubts that it is my PTO... But the car has 49k on it and was told it had all the fluids changed while the dealer had it for sale (part of the certified pre owned deal). Should I change the fluid just to be on the safe side?

yowen · February 12, 2014, 03:42:46 PM

I should have also mentioned that the particular wheelbearing I had replaced was on a wheel that got hit during a low(ish) speed accident. I too was hearing noises from one particular corner, it started at high speed and as it got worse I could hear it at lower and lower speeds.

I doubt the tune should be a problem with this particular issue, if it really is wheel (bearing) related I doubt they'd even think to look for a tune, but I don't have any experience with it either, so don't take my word for it.

SHOdded · February 12, 2014, 05:26:58 PM

I doubt the PTU fluid ever got changed, as the discussion surrounding it is fairly recent, and Ford has no official procedure to replace that fluid. So if you can change it out, at worst, you will have ensured continued proper lubrication of the PTU and extended its' service life.

futat2 · February 12, 2014, 07:09:44 PM

To check your wheel baring, just jack up the side of the car you think it is (only enough to get the wheel just off the ground) grab the sides of the tire and shake back and forth. you will feel if the baring is bad. it should be stiff not "wiggly".

Edit: By shake back and forth, I mean push with one hand and pull with the other and do that back and forth without actually forcing the wheel to turn.

jimmyducati · February 13, 2014, 12:15:41 AM

I checked the wheel bearing play this morning before I posted up, should have included that in the o.g. post.. With zero feedback in the steering or brake pedal the only thing it really could be is the wheel bearing. Going to drop it off monday morning to get checked out.

Already re-installed the stock tune, might even put the stock wheels back on before I take it in

shoman04 · February 13, 2014, 01:01:51 AM

Quote from: jimmyducati on February 12, 2014, 03:28:16 PM
That looks nasty!! It is distinctly coming from the right front corner, so I have doubts that it is my PTO... But the car has 49k on it and was told it had all the fluids changed while the dealer had it for sale (part of the certified pre owned deal). Should I change the fluid just to be on the safe side?

My PTU sound like a right front wheel bearing to. Ford said that there no PTU oil change needed on it. But here on the forum it is the option that the Ecoboosted cars members it should be change every 30k. Because Hi-performance Mustangs have there rear drif. change every 50k but the V6 only every 200k. Here a thread on the subject. http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=1956.0

jimmyducati · February 14, 2014, 02:22:47 PM

Made an appointment to have the car looked at tomorrow at 8am. Its still under the 100k warranty so as long as it gets fixed ill be happy.. maybe happier if its the PTO instead of the wheel bearing, one less thing for me to worry about down the road!

SHOdded · February 14, 2014, 02:31:26 PM

Interested in the outcome, and good luck!

jimmyducati · February 15, 2014, 01:43:53 PM

Dropped it off this morning and it was ready 2 hours later, they said it was the right front wheel bearing and it was R&R'd. A few miles down the road and it was making the same noise again, so in my book its not fixed.. Just turned 50k miles this week, going to take it back monday morning and have them look at it again, maybe tell them to drive it on the highway at speed instead of just down the main road for the test drive.

jimmyducati · February 15, 2014, 01:53:15 PM

It was done under warranty (they never said anything about my staggered wheel setup) so thats good, but I think I'm going to put the stock wheels back on when I take it back monday... With all the talk on here about the RDU and the PTU being culprits with this sound, I don't want to give them any reason to void the 100k mile warranty!

thatsmrgimp2u · February 16, 2014, 11:52:17 AM

I get a vibration / hum sound and some slight wheel feedback when over 85 mph. When I apply the brakes at speed I hear vibration more than I feel it. I have already replaced the front rotors and pads and will be doing the rears soon. I'm hoping its the rear brakes or a bearing and not the ptu. Only have 43k on the clock but still haven't replaced its fluid.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk