Front End Noise

Good Morning,
My 2003 Silverado is has developed some front end noise. Mostly when making right hand turns. Seems to be coming from the front LH wheel. Kind of a grind, followed by a thumping. It goes away once turning is done and I'm driving straight again. Any ideas?

Thanks,
BJL

If you think it's from the wheel area, and not the column, raise the ft and and check for play in the L/F hub bearing (top to bottom, side to side) sounds like maybe a failed bearing. Also rotate the wheel and feel for any roughness.

Thanks for the reply. As far as noise from the column, this is different and seems to be coming from the front LH wheel. Column noise- I have had the intermediate shaft issues and learned to live with it.

I am also noticing a slight squeal driving down the road. Wheel bearing possibly?

Good Morning,
Sorry to hear about this noise concern, but I see you’re getting some great feedback. If you would like to keep me posted, I am interested in hearing how things go!

Best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service

Could also be bearing noise. Have you raised and inspected yet?

Good Morning,
My 2003 Silverado is has developed some front end noise. Mostly when making right hand turns. Seems to be coming from the front LH wheel. Kind of a grind, followed by a thumping. It goes away once turning is done and I'm driving straight again. Any ideas?

Thanks,
BJL

when you turn right the weight will be on the drivers side. the wheel should be raised off the ground. place a block under the lower control arm of sufficent size to allow the tire to be rotated, when the vehicle is lowered on it . this will have the from CV axles straight. push back the brake pads so they do not drag on the rotor and rotate the wheel to feel for ruffness or not secure, noises...etc..


these vehicles have many hub bearing issues as the seals used rust out in a few years of rust belt use.

remove the wheel hub sensor and see it the grease is rusty/red color. the grease should be blue. if rusted the hub is N/G..

It was the wheel bearing I was hearing. I also have a noisey steer shaft. It moans and groans when turning. Something I am used to. Would like to get rid of it- but it's not a safety threat. So I will wait with that one.

Thanks for the help.

BJL

It was the wheel bearing I was hearing. I also have a noisey steer shaft. It moans and groans when turning. Something I am used to. Would like to get rid of it- but it's not a safety threat. So I will wait with that one.

Thanks for the help.

BJL

gm does not make recommendations on power steering fluid replacement. I have found replacing every 5 years the power steer fluid will keep this quiet and stop any leaks. the fluid should be a clear looking light brown. when it gets cloudy dark brown it is in need of replacing.

rather than make a big mess. I simply suck out all I can with the bottle hand pump that I use to fill the other oils. then add to the proper level with prestone GM power steering fluid with seal conditioner. after a week repeat this process. by then the pump will quiet down as the new fluid can create the proper pressures required to move the wheels.

I was having similar problems with my car but had no idea to check the color of the grease under the hub sensor. My mechanic buddy told me that many cars have bearings that go bad because they are not packed properly with grease. Is this true? When I replaced the bearings on my car I spent more attention on the bearing itself and very little on the grease. Should I remove the bearings I replaced to repack them with grease?

Nate, you have posted in three different forums for the same problem and have not once stated what you are working on or what EXCATLY is wrong with it. How about picking one forum that applies to you and giving us ALL the info!

I was having similar problems with my car but had no idea to check the color of the grease under the hub sensor. My mechanic buddy told me that many cars have bearings that go bad because they are not packed properly with grease. Is this true? When I replaced the bearings on my car I spent more attention on the bearing itself and very little on the grease. Should I remove the bearings I replaced to repack them with grease?

with this silverado truck and the other suv gm vehicles that use this hub assembly the hub bearing seals rust out. I have never seen a seal rust out until I worked on this vehicle. normally the rubber breaks down and the grease blows out and then bearings go bad. or just 200,ooomiles of use and the bearings start to make noise.

using bearing grease on these at every brake service is what I plan to do. I will use the same blue grease that these require. pump it into the speed sensor hole.

some vehicles have bearings that require regular greasing. this is my 1996 impala SS... every 30,ooomi I clean and regrease these front wheel bearings.

with the truck/suv type on this vehicle you cannot doi t as they are sealed ..

what vehicle do you own that had this problem ?

I apologize for not giving all the details. I actually had my mechanic buddy look at my car and he said my wheel bearings were bad. I replaced them not long ago but he said they were probably not greased properly when installed the first time, which was my fault (woops!) So this weekend he showed me how to grease the wheel bearings : http://connect.timken.com/inadequate-grease-lubrication-in-bearings-part-1-of-3

And thanks for your suggestion jCat. I will grease the bearings again the next time I have my brakes serviced.