Seems as if everything is going wrong...

[allSHO2010]

Hey guys, I was looking for some input but mostly looking to get some things off my chest with this frustration automobile so here we go.

I've been in love with the new SHO's since they came back out a few years ago. I finally found a good deal at a dealer down in Ohio so my wife and I took the day off and made the trip. During the test drive, the car started throwing a 'misfire' code so the dealer replaced the plugs for us. Turns out the solution to that problem was putting some quality 93 gas in her.

The car was good for roughly three weeks then she started showing her true colors. First I got a flat tire because they were beginning to dry rot and were cut up all over the tread (OEM Michelin's) so I dumped in close to $1,400 for a new set.

From the end of May until now (6/30/14); I've had both front wheel bearings, front struts, front rotors, PTU and rear drivers side toe link replaced. I was hearing a sporadic humming noise coming from the front drivers side and to me it sounded like a wheel bearing so the Ford dealer replaced it for me to no avail.

There next course of action was to replace the PTU and that hasn't eliminated the noise either. The dealer then insisted on telling me that the noise I was hearing is a "characteristic of the vehicle" which is ridiculous and their answer to not being able to find/resolve the issue. http://www.shoforum.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

Do you guys have any ideas? Like I said, it's front drivers side and sort of sounds like road noise but it sounds the same on any type of road (smooth, bumpy, dirt, gravel etc..). I love the car but I am feeling extremely unhappy at the moment, please throw some good news or a possible resolution at me! Thanks guys, promise the next message won't be this long!

 

[Dave]

The first thing that comes to mind is swapping the front wheels. You may have a bent wheel.

 

[allSHO2010]

I hadn't thought of that, I'll swap them to the back and see if that helps out at all.

 

[Dave]

Got my fingers crossed.

 

[SHOdded]

Does the car drive straight or is there some wobble? Were the wheels/tires roadforce balanced? If any added wheel weights are not completely adhered, they can cause a hum as well.

 

[allSHO2010]

Does the car drive straight or is there some wobble? Were the wheels/tires roadforce balanced? If any added wheel weights are not completely adhered, they can cause a hum as well.

She has a little bit of a back-and-forth wheel wobble around 40-50mph. I'm not sure what Belle Tire's balancing procedures are but I will have to call up and ask them. Thanks for the input guys, this noise is slowly but surely killing my enjoyment of the vehicle...

 

[SHOdded]

Also, lug nuts should be tightened to spec using a torque wrench, while the vehicle is on the ground, with the weight on the wheel/tire. Too many times, shops will use their air tool's King Kong power to overtighten, resulting in warped rotors later.

 

[tery]

Hey Shoodded,
Do you know that torque setting off hand??
T

 

[bpd1151]

Thanks for the input guys, this noise is slowly but surely killing my enjoyment of the vehicle...

Noises huh? Irritating one(s) at that??

I suppose that's nothing a quick R&R of the factory exhaust & DP's (in exchange for an aftermarket set-up) couldn't resolve.

Well that, and turning up the volume on the radio a little bit.

 

[SHOrod]

Hey Shoodded,
Do you know that torque setting off hand??
T

100 ft-lbs.

-Rod

 

[EcoPowerParts]

You sure this car wasn't wrecked? Sounds like massive front end damage and then sat on a lot for a long time before getting repaired (dry rotted tires).

 

[allSHO2010]

Noises huh? Irritating one(s) at that??

I suppose that's nothing a quick R&R of the factory exhaust & DP's (in exchange for an aftermarket set-up) couldn't resolve.

Well that, and turning up the volume on the radio a little bit.

Extremely annoying, when I picked her up she wasn't making this noise; I certainly wouldn't have taken it home. It started happening in between trips to the shop.

I'm planning on swapping wheels around this weekend and making sure the rim is torqued to spec. Other than that, I'm all out of ideas.

 

[allSHO2010]

You sure this car wasn't wrecked? Sounds like massive front end damage and then sat on a lot for a long time before getting repaired (dry rotted tires).

Yes sir, I've got the carfax for it and there are no accidents listed. I'm pretty sure it was abused though since it was a lease. Ah well, I'll get this fixed and soon be making a trip back home to Dearborn Heights to see the Livernois team. I used to be there all the time when I was a kid and it'll feel good to leave there with a low 13 second car.

 

[SHOdded]

There's rumors you could be in the mid-high 12's with the tune and a few minor parts. If you can get dyno time, can't beat that!

 

[PokerMunkee]

Good luck getting it fixed. Ditto on noises ruining the enjoyment of a car!

Look on the bright side, you live in a beautiful part of Michigan! I miss living in Grand Rapids, loved going to Holland!

 

[allSHO2010]

Good luck getting it fixed. Ditto on noises ruining the enjoyment of a car!

Look on the bright side, you live in a beautiful part of Michigan! I miss living in Grand Rapids, loved going to Holland!

You know it, this car is just beautiful to look at and was a blast at the very beginning but I'm beginning to get a headache whenever I hop in and start driving lol.

I love the West side of MI too, it's gorgeous out here. And being a mile from Lake MI doesn't hurt either!

 

[TimboSHO]

I'm sorry to hear about your problems, and just wanted to say 'hi' from southern grand rapids (wyoming) :wave:

Is the noise getting louder? Does it change when you turn left or right?

 

[allSHO2010]

I'm sorry to hear about your problems, and just wanted to say 'hi' from southern grand rapids (wyoming) :wave:

Is the noise getting louder? Does it change when you turn left or right?

South Holland all the way! The noise doesn't actually get any louder when I turn left or right so I'm hopefully eliminating a wheel bearing, also that one was just replaced a few weeks ago.

 

[allSHO2010]

Project update: I went ahead and replaced the rear rotors as well as swapped the drivers side front and rear wheels to see if the noise was coming from a bad wheel and it isn't.

Like I said, both front wheel bearings as well as the PTU were replaced within the last three weeks so I'm not exactly sure where else to look? The front drivers side has also been making a 'sticking' or 'grabbing' noise under hard braking situations.

I thought this may be from the spring not being properly seated during the strut install but I checked that this evening when the wheel was off and it's definitely where it needs to be.

I'm lost!

 

[TimboSHO]

I wonder if it's a caliper that sticks only when it warms up. Have you checked the temperature of the wheels/brakes after driving for awhile? If you have a pyrometer, that would be best, but you can even feel the wheel with the back of your hand to feel a significant difference.

And even if you think the noise is from the left front, I would still try swapping the passenger side wheels just in case.