Rear end noise from front wheel drive car

check the front drive shaft spline or "U" joint at the transfer case
splines on this shaft wear more quickly that the rear drive line
as the operation angles for the front diff are more acute that the rear shaft

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "rubbing" sound. If it's a squeaking type of rubbing, you are more than likely hearing the bushings. The Ford Explorer is known to have the bushings wear down so much that any torque or twist will make this sound. It'll cost a few hundred to fix, mainly because if you'r going to fix one, you should just fix them all.

Do you have the vehicle in 4 wheel drive? 4 wheel drive is only meant for slippery conditions. It will act exactly as you describe if on dry surfaces.

The differential is inside and part of the transaxle. A transaxle has both the transmission and the differential together as a single unit. On rear wheel drive cars, the differential would be in the rear end- the large center case on the rear axle. With front wheel drive, the differential is incorporated within the transaxle. It is used to keep the front drive wheels turning properly during steering turns.

The differential uses the same oil or fluid as in the transmission/transaxle case-it is all the same piece, not serviced or flushed separately from the transmission, or transaxle as front wheel drive cars are called.

You must have a 4 Wheel-drive. You should have a driveshaft for that end of the vehicle and you should not let the Mechanic keep it. The rear unit must have a bad Pinion bearing or more damaged parts. Some of parts can "freewheel" without having power going through them.

But the metal shavings from broken parts can travel inside the differential and cause more problems. You don't always need the 4-wheel drive function and you do not have it since the Mechanic disconnected it.

Sometimes it can be what is called an "axle" bearing. Each side has this part so you have 2. The noise levels for this part can also change when the 4 wheel drive is engaged.

Make sure the rear differential has lube. Read the Web for articles about your vehicle. Search "2003 Ford Escape rear differential".

There is a Salvage yard site called Car-parts.com which is good for locating used parts like differentials. One would need to match the same gear ratio as the front.

what you are describing can't be done-unless-no -the rear drive shaft will still drive the rear wheels-smart track ain't so smart. you could drop the rear drive shaft out but then you'd leak trany fluid all out the tailshaft-why not pick up rear end at the junkyard and install-cheers Denny

I would guess your differential. Raise your rear end and try rotating wheel, it should make the other wheel spin the opposite direction. I'd the other wheel doesn't spin, I would say it's your differential.

THE LEAK is an axle seal leaking the noise is bearings in rear end could be axle bearing of carrier/pinion bearings while driving shift weight of truck side to side see if noise changes if so it is axle bearing if not then most likely differential bearings

Had something like this with my much loved 6 cylinder Camry. Turned out to be a wheel bearing. You can check by raising the rear wheel off the ground with the jack and if you can move the wheel in and out, you need a wheel bearing. And it is a safety issue - when bad enough the wheel can come off the car, definitely a life changing experience. Check both rear wheels, just take a few minutes of your time. Don't believe the Elantra or any other front wheel drive car has a differential, those are used in rear wheel drive vehicles.

first i would check the tires , are they cupped or chopped on the tread? run your hand over the tread and see if it feels rough and uneven. take the truck to a auto repair shop and have them jack both front and rear axles off the ground, put the truck in 2 wheel drive and run the speedometer to the speed you usually hear the roaring noise, if you don't hear the noise , put the truck in 4 wheel drive, turn off the traction assist if it has one and run it to the speed you would hear the noise. if you hear the roaring noise with tires off the ground, the problem is in the drivetrain, (engine, transmission, transfer case, u-joints, differentials or the front left or right cv halfshafts or u-joints). the older models (97 98) had the front two driveshafts from the differential turning all the time, they engaged in 4 wheel drive from the transfer case and a solenoid on the front differential. depending on the miles you have on this truck, the most likely areas i would look at would be the tires, u-joints/cv joints, and front and rear wheel bearings. thanks and good luck.