Suspension problem?

I'm having a problem with my 94 Geo Metro. A few days ago I noticed a sound that sounded like my tire was flat, but it was very minute. It sounded like it was coming from the right front tire. I checked all my tires and they were good with air. I tightened the lugs to make sure they weren't loose, and they were fine. I started to think I was imagining it, but some more driving disproved that. I suspected it may be my struts going out. I live in Jackson, MS and the roads here are horrible, only off-road suspension can handle these roads. My previous car had the back struts go out on it also. Anyway, Yesterday I discovered that while going over 35 or so I heard a high pitched noise that sounded like my wheels squealing. When I stopped to investigate I had found that both my front tires had been worn smooth! Not the whole tread, just the inner-half of the tread. So today I switched the wheels with the stock wheels, something that was odd was that the front right tire easily wobbled in my hands, which none of the other wheels did. Any help with this would be great.

Edit: Oh I almost forgot, the car originally came from Milwaulkee but I bought it here. So it does have some problems with rust. Thanks.

...sounded like my wheels squealing ... both my front tires had been worn smooth! Not the whole tread, just the inner-half of the tread ... the front right tire easily wobbled in my hands, which none of the other wheels did.


It sounds to me like you may have either one or two bad wheel bearings and/or loose axle nuts. You must inspect this condition immediately. Grab a 30mm socket and a 1/2" drive torque wrench and be sure your axle nuts are torqued to ~129lb.ft.

If your lugs are tight, and the wheel still wobbles, it's either because of worn suspension components (ball joints, control arm/bushings, loose strut to steering knuckle bolts, strut mount, etc), a bad wheel bearing, or a loose axle nut. If the nut is loose, you'll need to replace the wheel bearing as it will have destroyed itself. If all your suspension components dont move with the wheel and you are able to rule them out, you'll need to replace the wheel bearing.

Assess the damage, and have an alignment and tire rotation performed after completing the repairs.

-MechanicMatt