rschap1 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 With my new to me 2007 4cylinder SEL I am having some questions. I have posted a few already, here's latest... I am pretty sure I new a hub/wheel bearing to fix the loud hum-road noise issue I have. But after checking things over again yesterday I wondered if there is any lube for the transaxle beyond the ATF?? Is the differential and the entire drive all taken care of with the trans fluid or is there a seperate gear lube level to check?? I went through my owner's manual admittedly quickly, and searched here and didn't find anything beside changing of the ATF info. I got underneath after checking the wheel ends again hoping to see if there were anything, but discovered the plastic belly pan as I looked at the cv joints and axles to make sure everything was good there. I am really trying to cover my bases before doing a hub. I see these are fairly inexpensive and I am used to replacing them, but... I also replaced 2 on my Expedition that weren't an issue just to chase my way to the 3rd that was noisey. With all 4 still being solid and tight, I am still driving in hopes that one will start to show a little looseness and wobble so I am confident that is the one before I replace it. Appreciate any info on the gear lube, front end, transaxle, differential or whatever else I may be missing. THANKS 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 The FWD doesn't have any other fluids in the trans, only the AWD cars have a separate PTU that requires a different fluid. The best way to tell if a bearing is bad is that it will get louder or quieter when you turn. If it gets louder when you turn to the right, then it's a left side bearing and vice versa. If it doesn't get louder, then it's likely not a bearing at all. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks for the FWD info !! Glad to know that I am not missing anything there. Not much if any difference when turning. It is relative to wheel speed. "Loudest" about 55-60 mph, or so it seems. Much faster and not sure if it quiets or just wind and road noise takes over. Rotated tires yesterday to see if any difference. None... THANKS for the tips!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Maybe a tire threw a belt. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 I am pretty sure that it is a hub. Part of the reason for rotating tires was to see if it changed anything. I do not think it is the tires because I rotated them both front to rear and side to side and noise stayed same. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I am pretty sure that it is a hub.Part of the reason for rotating tires was to see if it changed anything. I do not think it is the tires because I rotated them both front to rear and side to side and noise stayed same. If you're able to isolate the noise to one corner then I would agree. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Seems like the passenger's side front. When my son rides with me, he says so too. No shake or slop when I try to tug the wheel and tire around though... Probably keep driving until it gets worse. Figure it will loosen up if it a hub eventually. Being in the teens here temp wise, I am in no hurry. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 If it's not getting louder when you turn, I'd bet it's more likely to be a CV joint than a hub. Have you checked the CV joint boots to see if any of them are torn? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 It does not seem to sound much if at all any different when turning. That had made me wonder if it was a rear hub initially too. I did look all the CV boots over. Those all look good. Not ruling out the joints at all though. There are no clunks or slams when starting stopping. And when I was under it I tried to turn the front tires forward and back while holding the axle shafts to see if there was any slop. Those all looked solid. Guessing the joints could still make the hum sound w/o being sloppy. -5 degrees this morning, so it is going to be a little while before I dig too much further. Thanks for the direction ! ! ! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 I was searching for hubs, bearings, and axle shafts a minute ago... Most of the places I was looking show a roller bearing for the front of the Fusion. Not a complete hub assembly for these? Do you have to press stuff apart and back together?? Thanks again !! !! !! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 (edited) Yup, you need a press. If you don't have one you'll have to take the wheel knuckle to a machine shop and have them press the new bearing and hub for you. Edited January 22, 2013 by FusionDiffusion 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 Not all one unit hub huh? Surprising. I thought nearly all vehicles had them now a days. I will keep that in mind if/when I do something with it. THANKS ! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 I see this diagram online... Guessing that the bearing presses into the knuckle as FusionDiffusion says, the snap ring holds it in the knuckle also, and then just the axle nut holds the wheel hub in the assembly? Am I anywheres close??? Thanks 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Yup, that's the right picture. The hub is also pressed into the bearing, so it's a friction fit in addition to the axle nut holding it all together. When you take it apart you push the hub out of the bearing, and then the bearing out of the knuckle. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alohamateo Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Working on the exact same issue here...2007 Fusion FWD, passenger side "bearing-like" noise ..One of the lower arms was being difficult, so the dealer did the bearing swap for $207 :glare: , plus $65 bearing. But bewaaaare, it turned out to NOT be the passenger wheel bearing ...it was now being diagnosed as an intermediate shaft carrier bearing = $440 with parts. It comes home tomorrow, will update if they actually fix the problem.... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) I will be REAL interested in what you find out!!! Is the intermediate shaft carrier bearing within the transaxle? I'll have to see what I can find out about that soon too. IF it was/is a CV joint/axle does the wheel knuckle have to be removed to get the axle out? Probably same if the carrier bearing needs replacement too, right? Guessing the axle has to come out to get at the carrier bearing... Or is the intermediate shaft something within the transaxle and seperate from the CV/axles? Edited January 23, 2013 by rschap1 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 24, 2013 Author Share Posted January 24, 2013 Thought I had a new lead yesterday. It has been cold and snowy here. Traveled 20+ miles on icy snow covered highway home from work. Got to another section of my trip and highway was nicer and clearer. Get up to 70 and VERY bad shake and vibration. I had car/truck tires/wheel get ice and snow in them and be unbalanced before, but while parked. The rears must have got packed while crossing snow piles between lanes while passing. Once I parked, sure enough rears were just stuffed. Knocked it all out and fine, but wierd how it got there while driving. Still gotta find that hum, but thought I would share. Maybe others with same wheels should beware... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alohamateo Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Well.... the dealer finally diagnosed the issue as the intermediate shaft bearing, but they also wanted replace the driver side wheel bearing. We opted to just replace the intermediate bearing at first, later that afternoon, the dealer called to advise the majority of the noise complaint had been resolved.. Buuuut they felt, the driver side bearing should be replaced also?? ( We did not have a chance to test drive the results between the shaft bearing replacement, and the driver side bearing replacement to confirm the dealers work or findings ..should of though...) But the Misses OK'd the dealer to perform the driver side replacement as well ...So, the problem has been resolved and we did a break on the price due to the shoddy diagnosis...Not sure if this will solve your problem, but hopefully it helped.. As for the parts, the intermediate shaft and bearing appeared to be one part @ $220 list. And the bearing for that shaft is about 2 inches from a catalytic converter, which bearings don't usually like more heat than the heat they generate..So this was probably real noise suspect there.. For this car, that intermediate shaft bearing is approx by your left foot on the passenger’s side, it connects the passenger’s side half shaft on one side, then connects to the transaxle on the other side. Good luck, I have a factory service book if you have any questions. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 29, 2013 Author Share Posted January 29, 2013 BIG thanks for all the info!! I had peeked quickly at the passenger's axle to see if the CV joint was sloppy. I will try and take a closer look at (for) that carrier bearing. Appreciate all the help !!! Hope your fix works out for ya. I was thinking maybe the dealer had to disassemble the driver's side knuckle assembly to get at the carrier bearing anyways and may be just saving additional labor by doing the wheel bearing, but probably not if the carrier bearing is on the passenger's side huh? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted January 31, 2013 Author Share Posted January 31, 2013 So, alohamateo, did your noise get fixed? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Even though it is SNOWING and temps are in the single digits... I am going to get under the front end QUICK like and see what I can about that shaft and carrier bearing. At least see what I can see... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Just inside from taking a look... The plastic "belly pan" covers most everything up, but luckily just opening the oil drain access let me see the passenger's axle, the shaft, and the bearing. Tried checking for any excess slop or play by rotating the wheel and tire while holding the shaft in place. Seemed like the was not any movement except for back and forth along the length of the shaft. Maybe .020" or so (CRUDE estimate) travel. Like a thrust bearing for a crankshaft. I guess if anyone has any info or diagrams of what it would take to replace it, I would appreciate it ! ! ! Not sure if that is what is making the noise, but I could certainly see it as a possibilty. Wouldn't mind being prepared and knowing what I was getting into if I do narrow it down to that. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted February 25, 2013 Author Share Posted February 25, 2013 Will Mustang rims like this fit a 2007 Fusion?? Wondering how alohamateo turned out... I still got my "hum" and nothing seems to be getting any worse or loosening up. HOPEFULLY summer will be here soon and I will dig deeper when it is not so cold. I am going to need to do something with my rims. Any little spot in th epaint/clear on my rims corroded like crazy this winter... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 I was hoping to hear back how alohamateo came out....? My car seems the same today as it did when I got it. I keep jacking it up off the ground every week or two to make sure nothing is getting too wore and sloppy. Keep checking the carrier bearing too. Nothing seems to be getting worse. Except the finish and clear coat on my rims. They are needing some attention after all the winter salt and snow. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rschap1 Posted July 1, 2013 Author Share Posted July 1, 2013 Just posted on a 1999 Cobra wheel thread, may look at a set this week. Over 20 thousand miles since I got this car and... still have same hum/road noise. Keep figuring it will get worse so I can locate it, but just same old... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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