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Topic: 2017 MB: Strange Noises-Rear Axle Hum- Pinion Bearing (Read 3787 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #25 –
Quote from: Glenn Lambert  - 
Recently, I noticed two strange noises while driving our 2017 MB.  The first is a humming noise that starts exactly between 65-70 MPH.  I do not feel any vibration - just this humming/groaning noise.  The other noise is a creaking noise like a bad bedspring coming from the suspension - shock, leaf springs?

So here's an update on the creaking noise that appears to be coming from the shock or leaf springs.  It was getting worse as we travelled from Michigan to St George Island State Park, Florida.  Because of tropical storm Nestor, the state park was evacuated and we had to leave.  As I was leaving the Island, "creaky bones" was still creaking.  Then the rains from the storm started and the creaking stopped!  We drove all the way from St George Island to Gulf Shore State Park Alabama (275 miles) with no creaking.  We've driven around locally and still no creaking.  I'm wondering if somehow the rainwater cleaned or lubricated something in the suspension?  Weird.

Regarding the humming/groaning noise between 65-70 MPH.  I've been driving under 65 during our trip.  We will be spending a few days in Austin Texas with family and I'm going to take the LD to a truck repair place (Inland Truck & Service).  I spoke to the service manager and explained the issue.

Also, during the trip, I've encountered a third noise.  It's a ticking noise coming from the engine.  It mostly occurs when I'm going up a steep hill.  I "googled" the symptoms and found a guy on Youtube who had the same thing on his RV.  He recorded the noise and it's exactly the same sound.  He took his RV to the place he bought it (Thor) and to a Ford repair center.  No one could determine the cause and deemed it was not serious only a nuisance.  Weird.  I will mention this new noise when I'm in Austin.     
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #26 –
Quote from: Glenn Lambert  - 
  Then the rains from the storm started and the creaking stopped!  We drove all the way from St George Island to Gulf Shore State Park Alabama (275 miles) with no creaking.  We've driven around locally and still no creaking.  I'm wondering if somehow the rainwater cleaned or lubricated something in the suspension?  Weird.

The water was what stopped the noise, temporarily.
Growing up, I noticed that my parent's car were quieter after washing. My dad told me that the rubber suspension bushings and the leaf springs were wet and that helped them move smoothly, until they dried.
In decades past, a long, gone liquid bushing lubricant was available to spray on noisy bushings and springs.

I'm interested in what is found to be causing the humming and now ticking,  it's so hard to guess what causes a noise when not actually hearing it.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #27 –
Could the ticking noise possibly be an exhaust manifold leak?

Jon
1994 MB
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #28 –
Quote from: JonS  - 
Could the ticking noise possibly be an exhaust manifold leak?

That was my thought as well.

The creaking, especially if rear, could be dry rear sway bar bushings.  We have that on occasion with our Sprinter-based RV.  A little lube and all is good.
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #29 –
My guess for the "ticking noise" that is mostly when climbing "steep hills" is that the engine is pinging. My experience with pinging (or knocking) was that it was usually caused by using too low octane fuel though there are some other possible causes.


Regarding those new hearing aids you got in May, they seem to be opening several cans of worms. I like to say that I have spent too much money on blood pressure medications; I don't need more aggravation. I would only use those hearing aids when I'm not driving the Lazy Daze. :D

Steve K.
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #30 –
Quote from: Steve K.  - 
My guess for the "ticking noise" that is mostly when climbing "steep hills" is that the engine is pinging. My experience with pinging (or knocking) was that it was usually caused by using too low octane fuel.

Steve K.

I did one fill up with higher octane gas and added a bottle of gas additive.  The ticking has now become more frequent but random.  I’ll see what happens when I take the RV to a repair place.
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #31 –
Quote from: JonS  - 
Could the ticking noise possibly be an exhaust manifold leak?

Jon

I did find a Youtube video of the sound of an exhaust manifold leak, but the noise isn’t the same.  If you interested, here is a link to a Youtube video that has the same ticking sound I have: https://youtu.be/fSmXgaxR3AA

It’s a Thor Class A he’s driving.  But after taking it to Thor and a Ford repair place, the cause could not be found.
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #32 –
Quote from: Glenn Lambert  - 
I did find a Youtube video of the sound of an exhaust manifold leak, but the noise isn’t the same.  If you interested, here is a link to a Youtube video that has the same ticking sound I have: https://youtu.be/fSmXgaxR3AA

It’s a Thor Class A he’s driving.  But after taking it to Thor and a Ford repair place, the cause could not be found.

 I forgot to add that the ticking noise really starts about 40 seconds into the video.
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #33 –
Quote from: Glenn Lambert  - 
I forgot to add that the ticking noise really starts about 40 seconds into the video.

I hear a lot of road noise and something rattling, perhaps the exhaust shields on the exhaust located directly under the driver's seat.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #34 –
Leaf spring creak sounds like an issue I once had. There's plastic rectangular plastic pads that fit in between a couple of these leafs that sometimes wear out. Pretty cheap and easy fix. Just jack up truck by the frame so the rear wheels hang which opens  up the leaf spring. Fairly simple to remove old part and slip new one into place. Odd thing is mine did this when the truck was new with only 20 k on it and I thought great, I'll be doing this constantly. Put well over 250k more miles on it and never had the problem again. Beats me as to how that worked.
Hope this helps with at least one of your annoying noises
Discuss anything with anyone and disagree agreeably. Always be polite and respectful.
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #35 –
I can certainly relate to your random noise concern.  When we started traveling in our older LD I brought with me my "car mechanics's ear" on what was supposed to be a relaxing trip. Every new mystery noise brought visions of impending doom.  After checking all the basic safety concerns I came to the conclusion that my motor home is a big rattly storage building being carried around on the back of a 3 ton truck. Those big tires sing, those wheel simulators rattle, that catalytic converter shield vibrates at idle in drive, and everything in the fridge clunks and moves.  I am still  alert to really obvious engine noises under the dog house, brake odors etc. and I know sooner or later I will break down somewhere for sure. In the mean time I'm thinking of hanging a picture of Alfred E. Neuman on my rear view mirror.
1990 26.5 MB
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #36 –
Well here is sort of an update to the leaf spring noise and the humming/groaning noise between 65-70 mph.  Like I mentioned earlier, the leaf spring noise just suddenly stopped as we were evacuating St George Island FL during tropical storm Nestor 3 weeks ago.  It has not come back as we travelled through Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  A mystery.

Regarding the humming/groaning noise, I just kept the speed at 65 mph.  Every once in a while I would accelerate to 70 just to check it.  I was going to take the RV to a truck repair place in Austin, TX but I came down with a sinus infection and then had to move on.  Now the humming noise seems to have disappeared. 

When we return to Michigan in December, I will leave the RV at my usual Ford truck repair place.
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #38 –
My 2018 Phoenix Cruiser on a E-350 chassis has the same hum with some vibration starting at 65 mph. I never cruise over 60 mph. When I first noticed it I thought maybe it was a tire out of balance, I had over 36,000 miles on so I figure my warranty has expired. I had totally forgot about it until I read this forum. Today I was on the interstate which is rare, I ran at 65 mph and the hum was pretty bad. My odometer is at 60,400 miles. I called Ford customer service today and was basically told, you're over 60,000 so you're out of warranty. The engine and drivetrain is 5 yr 60,000. Any advice?
2017 Mid Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #39 –
Anyone find out what the hum at 65 mph is?
2017 Mid Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #40 –
Quote from: rabbitdiesel1  - 
Anyone find out what the hum at 65 mph is?
I'm the original owner of this message thread.  Here's the update.  The Ford truck service place I use had diagnosed the hum as coming from somewhere in the rear axle area.  This was back in September just before we were going on a whirlwind wandering.  They were really swamped at the time and could not proceed with a resolution.  Their opinion was that since the hum had been occurring for a while, I would probably be OK and to come back after the trip.  After traveling 7,100 miles and rarely going over 65mph, I returned the RV to the Ford truck service place for an oil change, resume looking for the cause of the hum, and to look into a random ticking sound coming form the engine that had started at the beginning of the trip.  This was on December 9.  Last week, they determined the hum was coming form the rear axle and ordered a rear axle assembly kit which will be installed under warranty.  They said it would take a few weeks before the kit would arrive.  The problem is that we are going out on another whirlwind tour next week.  So, I will be going back to the service place when we return mid-March. 
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #41 –
Thanks for the update.
2017 Mid Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #42 –
Quote from: Glenn Lambert  - 
I'm the original owner of this message thread.  Here's the update.  The Ford truck service place I use had diagnosed the hum as coming from somewhere in the rear axle area.  This was back in September just before we were going on a whirlwind wandering.  They were really swamped at the time and could not proceed with a resolution.  Their opinion was that since the hum had been occurring for a while, I would probably be OK and to come back after the trip.  After traveling 7,100 miles and rarely going over 65mph, I returned the RV to the Ford truck service place for an oil change, resume looking for the cause of the hum, and to look into a random ticking sound coming form the engine that had started at the beginning of the trip.  This was on December 9.  Last week, they determined the hum was coming form the rear axle and ordered a rear axle assembly kit which will be installed under warranty.  They said it would take a few weeks before the kit would arrive.  The problem is that we are going out on another whirlwind tour next week.  So, I will be going back to the service place when we return mid-March. 
2017 Mid Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #43 –
Did the kit for the rear axle solve your humming sound at 65 to 70 mph?

  Lynn
2017 Mid Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #44 –
The OP's timeline indicated that he would return to the service facility in mid-March, so it's unlikely that the 'kit' has been installed yet.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #45 –
If the OP's LD is still running, it's likely the hum at 65-70 MPH is from a poorly set up ring and pinion gears, in the rear axle.
Noisy gears can go for ten of thousand miles in some cases since, while noisy, the gears will work OK .
The cure is to replace the ring and pinion and reset them correctly, it's almost an art, something most auto mechanics never learn to do well because a certain ammount of the work involves judgement rather than measurements, when looking at the gear patterns.. 
A rebuilt replacement or installing new gears and bearing at a qualified axle shop is the cure.

We had a rear axle pinion bearing go bad, requiring a rebuild, it was the most difficult job I have done on our LD.
Rebuilt axle start at around $2000 plus labor to removed and replace the old axle.
Axle rebuild-D70 HD | Flickr

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #46 –
I am the OP.  We are still on our wanderings in Florida and will not return home until the first week in April.  Then I will have to work with the Ford Truck Center to schedule the install of the rear axle kit (whatever that is) that they ordered back in December.
Glenn & Joan Lambert
Redford, MI
2017 27' Mid-Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #47 –
Thanks Glen.

  Lynn
2017 Mid Bath
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #48 –
Quote from: Glenn Lambert  - 
I am the OP.  We are still on our wanderings in Florida and will not return home until the first week in April.  Then I will have to work with the Ford Truck Center to schedule the install of the rear axle kit (whatever that is) that they ordered back in December.

I would imagine it's a whole axle assembly. I wouldn't accept anything less and certainly not a in-shop replacement of the gears unless it is done at a shop specializing in axle rebuilds.
Axle rebuilding is a definite sub-speciality of auto repair, similar to transmissions in that it take specialized equipment and experience to do it right and fast.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: 2017 MB: Strange Noises
Reply #49 –
I run 55 to 60 mph, everything runs smooth at those speeds, I have 69,000 miles on my 2017 chassis, no warranty, Could I just keep driving it as is and repair later at 100,000 miles or is that foolish?

  Lynn
2017 Mid Bath