Dragging front left wheel?

Hey guys, long story short me and my friend did a bunch of tests to my car today, tried to find that buggerish coolant leak etc. Anyways when we had it on a jack, tires in the air obviously, i put it into Neutral and span the front two tires, the right one spun like butter, the left one on the other hand took a lot more force.. When u did get it spinning it stops 1/2 second later like its catching. I put it into drive and let it idle and spin the tires; again the right one was spinning smoothly no problems, the left one was at a STOP sometimes, u had to push it then it kinda got going but not even close to as fast as the right one.. plus when i revved it a tad it started rumbling @ like 50km/h as if the left side was all catching and off balance..

First thought is maybe the brakes on that wheel are adjusted to tightly from last brake job or w/e? The caliper could be rubbing on the rotor and slowing it down..? When the wheel is spinning it sounds like a slight fffffft, like ur rubbing ur hand across a desk; could just be normal tho..

Or could be from a little bit ago when i hit a patch of ice and hit a pole on the PASSENGER side of the car, guy who did my alignment said "the DRIVER side wheel bearing has a bit of play, but is good for now keep and eye on it" Could the wheel bearing be bad now and causing this? It sounds pretty probable about the wheel bearing to me but would it really make the wheel not spin that smoothly? I know is it isnt proper and is prolly ruining my gas milage,tire wear, brakes if thats the case.. and a bunch of other crap :(

Any suggestions would be great, any tests I could make sure before getting work done? Thanks a lot!:naughty:

Anyone have any info to help me out, it could be rather dangerous.. Thanks

You don't have a Limited Slip Differential... it does that...

If the wheel bearing were bad you would take it out on the road and feel a vibrations coming from the car (not necessarily the wheel) and hear a rubbing noise from one of the bearings.

You don't have a Limited Slip Differential... it does that...

If the wheel bearing were bad you would take it out on the road and feel a vibrations coming from the car (not necessarily the wheel) and hear a rubbing noise from one of the bearings.

I can feel vibrations pretty bad over like 115km/h on the highway. And also when it was jacked up at like 45km/h it was vibrating horribly, felt like it was coming from the left side also, the right one was spinning like butter. Even in neutral if u spin it manually the right one span like butter and the left one had way more resistance, it felt like its dragging and when u did get it spinning it stopped almost right away, the right one was easy to get spinning and span for a few seconds after freely. In theory it wudnt be differential because in neutral there is no power going to the transmission.

So does this mean u think it is or isnt the wheel bearing then?

Only one way to find out for sure. Wheel bearings are not hard to get to. . .

Only one way to find out for sure. Wheel bearings are not hard to get to. . .
Indeed. Pull that puppy off and see how well it spins. If its gone bad, replace it. The job's not hard at all unless you got a stubborn one like me and I had to go to a machine shop. But even that's only $20 and some gas extra. So, yeah, go nuts.

Hoe exactly do I get it out, to I have to take the hub off? Tap it with a rubber hammer? Easy instructions plz

Here's a hint...you can't re-pack the bearings in these cars.

Here's a hint...you can't re-pack the bearings in these cars.
Sarcasm? Or do I need a whole new one if I take it out?

take off wheel, remove brake caliper and rotor,take off big nut on cv axle, three bolts should hold on the bearing remove those and the dust shield should also come off remove bearing its one piece with the wheel studs etc install is opposite

Dunno if im confident enough to take my brakes off yet, I could get a buddy's dad to do it for me though. What also came to mind today is my ABS light has been on for months, would the ABS be kinda locking it up on the one side? I notice when i brake easily i feel an uneasy experience like when ur rotor is "warped", think it could be ABS/sensor on left side locking/slowing it down? Or would it be locking both wheels? Thnx

Dunno if im confident enough to take my brakes off yet, I could get a buddy's dad to do it for me though. What also came to mind today is my ABS light has been on for months, would the ABS be kinda locking it up on the one side? I notice when i brake easily i feel an uneasy experience like when ur rotor is "warped", think it could be ABS/sensor on left side locking/slowing it down? Or would it be locking both wheels? Thnx


Brakes are easy. I can have an axle changed out in 20-30 minutes with hand tools. It's two bolts. You may need a large c-clamp to compress the piston slightly to remove it. Just make sure you loosen the cap to the brake resovoir first.

The abs system only releases brake pressure-- it will not cause drag on one side unless the sensor is bent and rubbing.

Slow brake pulsing under light pressure is usually caused by tire wear and will go away at your next tire change. Rotating tires will sometimes help. Really fast pulsing is your ABS coming on.

Cold - Very possible that a worn or somewhat loose wheel bearing is not holding the wheel perfectly upright and is letting the wheel assembly lean slightly, in which case it can contact the brake pads and give the symptoms you describe. On the other hand, a dragging brake caliper can do the exact same thing as well. Only cure is to replace parts - new wheel bearing or rebuild/rebuilt caliper assembly. Dangerous to drive in the current condition? Not really.

not dangerous to drive in that condition? let me tell you a story. my friends wife didnt tell him she had a problem with her car till after the wheel bearing seized while driving down the highway sheared all of the wheel studs of the bearing and sent the wheel hopping down the road. anything that has to do with the running and especially stopping of a car is SERIOUS!

Thanks you guys, good posts. I phoned my local TireCraft, (Good honest guys) and asked em a bunch of questions about it. I told him everything and he said it might be the wheel bearing or the brakes, most likely the bearing. He also suggested it could be the slip differential which someone said, but it doesent sound right if im in neutral spinning the wheel, and its only the left one that drags. Im bringing it in Wednesday and there gonna look at that and my coolant leak for free. Replacing the bearing is a bit pricy but whatever it needs to be done, im probably gonna change my brake pads/rotors soon after too so everything runs smooth.

Well, i just got back from Tirecraft.. Tall order
They said there is a few things wrong with the car:

1) The leak IS coming from the water pump
2) There is a possibility my head gasket is done AGAIN!! [fuck sakes $$], and if its leaking INTO the engine i need it replaced ASAP..
3) Rear upper strut mounts is whats causing the clunking
4) Maybe the front left wheel bearing AND one of the rear ones?? for the drag & bad front tires (ovalled) is whats causing vibration at high speeds
5) ABS light stays on, wud need it hooked up to the computer and see whats wrong

A lot taller of an order than I thought it would be just to get the coolant leak fixed. So far the water pump will need replacing soon, its leaking from the lower weep hole [hard to find like someone said]. He said theres 2 types of head gasket leaks, leaks inside which is horrible, or outside which still isnt good. They could do a test without pulling the engine apart to see if it is the gasket, he said something about pulling off spark plugs and turning it over and seeing if coolants going in a cylinder or w/e. So thats gonna be a good $750 canadian to replace if it is. I think $75-120 for the water pump w/ labour, and if I do need bearing[s] thats even more.. I was so pissed off, im thinking of just maybe replacing the water pump and hoping the gasket isnt leaking and just run the car into the ground and get a new one.. What do u think guys?

Well new news, the gf's dad has the massive hookups for anything car related. Hes gonna see how much it is to get my wheel bearings and water pump done, he said for sure a lot cheaper than tirecraft quoted me. And he dont think the head gasket is done, i didnt either. It doesent overheat, it doesent burn coolant.. So we will see with the quotes tommorow :)

Its your wheel hub replace it and you should be good to go its only $100 bucks and couple hours of work.