I replaced the 4 wheel drive last year with a manual Warn Hub. However, I was in 4 wheel drive with our snowstorm and this noise was coming from the front of my passenger side tire. The gear was in 4 wheel and the hubs were locked, and it started making this thumping/rubbing/humming noise on the right side. It actually sounds like a dog barking. I took the hubs and freestyled them and kept the Kia in 4 wheel drive and it stopped making that noise, so I have pin pointed it to the front passenger tire. So I then proceeded to see when it occurs. (Bumps, turns, braking etc,) I found that it does it when the car decelarates. The sound goes away when I accerlate. But when the Kia is in 2 wheel drive it does not do it. So I got it home, put the car up on a hoist, spun tires, and nothing, then took the tire off and check the brakes and calipers, and nothing, then took off the hub and noticed a slight leak, however, things were still lubbed really well. So I am at a lost. It sounds terrible. We have had very cold weather here along with a load of snow. But kinda floored me when i was on the road 40 min and it just started.
I would be very appreciative if you can help me in anyway, since the shop is at a lost.
I am a single mom who can't afford to take this back in again. This forum was very helpful with my head gasket I replaced a year and a half ago and saved me alot of money by doing it myself and costing 4.00 and 3 hours of my time....Anyone with an opinion would be greatful.

Check your PM's. I suspect you have a bad wheel bearing.

Check your right side CV axle also, it could make the sound your describing too.

Dennis

as the other guys have said......... check wheel bearings and cv....... also check that the inner cv shaft bearing......... back of the hub that supports the cv shaft is still intact.......

If it's the wheel bearing, wouldn't it be consistent, not just when the warn hubs are locked?????
Did I miss something in shop class?
Very curious on this one, since I am doing this all myself......Thanks

If the rear CV shaft bearing is bad it won't make noise when the hubs are unlocked because the shafts aren't turning.

Jack up the front so both wheels are off the ground. Lock in the hubs. Leave the transfer case in 2H. Spin the front wheels and listen for noises or note any roughness on each side.

I was reading this aloud and my wife asked if I wrote this. I logged on to research the exact same problem which happened last night. It is on the same side and I have the same manual Warn lockers. I have had the lockers on for the past 2 or 3 years with no problems. I live in the Chicagoland area and just got buried with snow this week and could realy use the 4X4 again. I will check what Axeman said since he is the most knowledgable person here. I just have to wait until the temp gets above -5 (w/o wind chill)

I have a similar noise from my front end but only with the hubs locked. It doesn't matter if I have it in 4wd or just 2wd. If the hubs are locked it makes the noise. It's the front wheel bearings. You can check them by grabbing the top of your tire and pulling and pushing back and forth real hard. If there is any slop, you need to repack or replace them. If you put it up on a lift/hoist, you can easliy tip and tilt the top and bottom of the tire back and forth to see if there is any play.

You can try repacking them and tighening them back down, but I would recommend replacing them.

Most shops will charge you a bit to replace them because they are also replacing the race too which requires pressing them out. You can do this all yourself, and if you have to, you can just replace the bearing and reuse the old race if it is in good enough condition.

I'm trying to get mine done too, but with the cold weather and with as much snow as we have, it makes for a real pain.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Ok, now i am stumped and getting more mad at this kia. I left my car in the garage for 2 days, then drove it last nite for about 1 hour and no noise at all? Then today weather at -10 with windchills at -27+ it started doing it 30 mins into my drive? I am so stumped at all of this.
I did what was said and did the tire test, no slop! However, the noise is intermitten, not consistent in 4 wheel drive. It will do it for about 15 sec then no again for 5 mins.......
Now here are my thoughts on this? Is it possible something is locking up due to the cold. WE have had several days of way below zero temps with windchills pushing -30. I live in Wisconsin and see no relief from this cold......I mean my truck sat in the garage for 2 days and nothing while driving it last nite in town doing errands, but then today, extremely cold...

Also if it's the bearing thingy, what is the cost at the garage approx?
Also how do i get to my bearing on this kia......Never had a 4x4 before and trying to save costs by doing this myself.....
Any help for a single mom would be very greatful.....

[2001 Kia Sportage-Mommy's Soccer Van]

To get to the bearings, you have to pull the Warn hub off. Then if I remember right there is a lock ring with a couple of Philips head screws that holds the bearing lock ring in place. Remove the screws then pull out this ring. The outer bearing lock ring has to be removed with a special tool that looks like a really big socket but with big sections cut out of it so it looks like it has jack o lantern teeth. You can rent it at Autozone and when you return it you get your money back (FREE!). Then you should be able to remove the outer bearing.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />