Wife reports 2017 Navigator with about 60K miles on it a grinding noise coming from front driver side when cold. I know it is not a Ford F150 but the Lincoln forum had no suggestions... Every time I drive it or when I am in it, it does not do it. I have checked with vacuum at the wheel hub and can not make it fail. Line to the IEW holds a vacuum with a tester.

So I replaced the IWE. Next day it made the noise for her. I drove it and made no noise...had her drive it and finally I heard and felt the noise on my feet in the floor boards. Feels like something rubbing. And a really hard noise to describe but it is not a metal grinding noise. Best way I can explain it is a whoo, whoo noise. It happens normally in first thing in the morning and then it is reproduce it the rest of the day. Seems to happen 20 - 35 mph and only going straight. If she turns the wheel the noise goes away and then straightens out and comes back. So I also replaced the wheel hub after I had a little wiggle moving the wheel left to right. Still produced the noise the next morning. I rotated the tires last night and it happened again this morning. Again happens when she leaves in the morning. Short ride to highway maybe a mile will make noise in the neighborhood and then 20 minutes on the highway and then another short ride to the work parking lot. During this time she tries to make it make the noise and she can't. I will say IWE, Hub and rotating the tires all were replace on different days over the last week or so. Any ideas as I am out of them and may be heading to the dealership. Again it is a 2017 Navigator 4x4 with 22 in wheels. Has 60K miles on it. With the GTDI V6 6-Speed Automatic. Any ideas please need help!

 

Check the brake caliper slide pins to make sure the caliper is occasionally staying against the rotor.

 

I am not familiar enough with the navigator in general, but the first thing I would check is the IWE's if it were an F150. If the navigator has 2H/4A/4H/4L selector for 4wd, put it in 4A and see if it goes away. This will engage the front hubs, eliminating the IWE's from the system. If it goes away, its likely a faulty IWE on that side, which is a very common issue. If it does not go away, id be looking at wheel bearings and brakes.

edit: just reread that the IWE was replaced. They require a "special" procedure to ensure the axle is seated properly before torqueing the small 13mm headed nut at its end. You are supposed to pull a vacuum at the IWE when reinstalling the axle after an IWE or hub swap. If you do not ensure its seated properly, you can break the brand new IWE and result in the same issue.

 

Thanks seemed ok but went ahead and cleaned them up and greased them up. No noise reported from her this morning! Keeping fingers crossed! Thanks for the idea 52merc!