• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Drone noise

Messages
173
Reactions
51
Points
27
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
#1
Just wondering if anyone has any clues to what it could be. When I excelorate anything above 50 km an hour I get a droning noise that wil not go away. Also this happens in any drive mode. thank you in advance.
 

Last edited:

Cdubya

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,615
Reactions
809
Points
262
Location
NE Ohio
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#2
Could be a leak in the exhaust. Can you tell where it's coming from? front or back.
 

DaveG ST

Member
U.S. Army Veteran
Messages
361
Reactions
152
Points
37
Location
Hurlock, MD, USA
#3
Do you have the stock exhaust?
 

OP
F
Messages
173
Reactions
51
Points
27
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thread Starter #4
I do have stock exhaust. It's really hard to tell where it is coming from. Sometimes it sounds like it's coming from the middle of the vehicle & sometimes it sounds like under the hood. I have to get my wife to drive while I can listen to try to determine roughly where it's coming from. It's driving my nuts lol
 

Jetiemann

Member
Law Enforcement
Messages
35
Reactions
22
Points
2
Location
Houston
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#5
Does the sound change with MPH or with RPM?
 

Messages
305
Reactions
138
Points
37
Location
NC
Vehicle
BMW X5, Black 2020 ST
#6
Get the midpipes checked.
 

OP
F
Messages
173
Reactions
51
Points
27
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thread Starter #7
Does the sound change with MPH or with RPM?
Yes the sound does change when I give it gas. Or when I'm on cruise control . It gets louder in an annoying way just in a Drone noise way. When I press the brakes or coast down in speed the noise goes away.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,437
Reactions
5,209
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#9
You obviously have a broken stock exhaust. It would behoove you to figure out where before it falls apart driving down the highway.
 

OP
F
Messages
173
Reactions
51
Points
27
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thread Starter #10
You obviously have a broken stock exhaust. It would behoove you to figure out where before it falls apart driving down the highway.
Thank you. I really appreciate your input. I will be having it in the shop later this week & report back with the findings. Thank you again
 

OP
F
Messages
173
Reactions
51
Points
27
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thread Starter #11
Ok so I went to a very resp muffler place & they found nothing wrong . I even went for a test drive with the guy & of course I could not reproduce the noise. But as soon as I got on the hyw the noise suddenly came back & has not gone away. I forgot to mention that I did a full brake job on the truck front & back. Rotors, pads clips were all replaced & slider pins cleaned & relubed. I checked everything recently with the brakes & they are fine. No unusual wear marks in the Rotors or anything.
 

Cajun Heat

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,154
Reactions
568
Points
262
Location
Katy, TX, USA
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST
#12
Ok so I went to a very resp muffler place & they found nothing wrong . I even went for a test drive with the guy & of course I could not reproduce the noise. But as soon as I got on the hyw the noise suddenly came back & has not gone away. I forgot to mention that I did a full brake job on the truck front & back. Rotors, pads clips were all replaced & slider pins cleaned & relubed. I checked everything recently with the brakes & they are fine. No unusual wear marks in the Rotors or anything.
Give a little bit more info.
How many miles do you have on the ST?
What year is the ST?
Has it always done this?
Could it be tire hum?
Go back to the muffler shop and have the guy ride with you again now that the noise is back.
 

OP
F
Messages
173
Reactions
51
Points
27
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thread Starter #13
I have 86000km it's a 2020 st, it has never done this before. It kinda sounds like a vacuum leak but I could be wrong. Hope that helps & thank you for your reply​
 

Cajun Heat

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,154
Reactions
568
Points
262
Location
Katy, TX, USA
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST
#14
I have 86000km it's a 2020 st, it has never done this before. It kinda sounds like a vacuum leak but I could be wrong. Hope that helps & thank you for your reply​
Thanks for the reply.

Very hard to figure out what is going on with so many variables. Suggest finding a road that it made the noise on near a dealership or a shop you trust and then ask them to take a ride with you on that same road.
 

powerboatr

Member
U.S. Navy Veteran
Messages
341
Reactions
214
Points
37
Location
Texas
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#15
I was thinking
Find a shop with a 4 wheel roller dyno
Get it to that speed and then listen
Rollers will remove air speed noises
I know it's a pricey thing

When were tires last balanced and are weights still intact
Or put it up on a lift.
Take a small wood dowel and start tapping the exhaust front to back see what sounds off or rattling
Do it right afyer car is hot
Then again once it cools
 

BrooseDaMoose

Active Member
Messages
637
Reactions
301
Points
82
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
#16
Ok so I went to a very resp muffler place & they found nothing wrong . I even went for a test drive with the guy & of course I could not reproduce the noise. But as soon as I got on the hyw the noise suddenly came back & has not gone away. I forgot to mention that I did a full brake job on the truck front & back. Rotors, pads clips were all replaced & slider pins cleaned & relubed. I checked everything recently with the brakes & they are fine. No unusual wear marks in the Rotors or anything.
Are you saying the noise started after you did the brake job or no?
 

OP
F
Messages
173
Reactions
51
Points
27
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thread Starter #17
I'm starting to think that but I can't be sure because I usually have my music pretty loud & for the last little bit I've kept my music very low or off.
 

OP
F
Messages
173
Reactions
51
Points
27
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thread Starter #18
I was thinking
Find a shop with a 4 wheel roller dyno
Get it to that speed and then listen
Rollers will remove air speed noises
I know it's a pricey thing

When were tires last balanced and are weights still intact
Or put it up on a lift.
Take a small wood dowel and start tapping the exhaust front to back see what sounds off or rattling
Do it right afyer car is hot
Then again once it cools
Interesting. Sounds like a great solution. Some to consider for sure. Thank you.
 



Top