Hey guys, Recently did a bunch of front suspension work. I replaced the lower controll arms, stabilizer bar and strut mounts & Bearings. I also replaced the struts and tie rod ends last fall. All of these parts are quality AC Delco parts.
Now, a week or so after all the work was done, I went around a 35mph curve at about 40mph, and when I straightened out the wheels once I got through it, there was some trash in the middle of the road, so I used the brakse a little hard to not hit the trash. Car was handeling great, then when I let off the brakes, it was making a loud bearing growl noise. Thinking a bolt came loose, I pulled over, checked it out, and nothing was out of the ordinary. When I got in to turn around and take it home, no more noise.
Week or so later (last night) went out for dinner, car was just fine, when we left the resturaunt, same clunk clink clunk clunk bearing growl as before. So we stopped in the O'reilley parking lot and I once again climbed under to check things out. Nothing loose or out of the ordinary. Decided to jump in and take it home. When we left, no more noise. however on the way home going 60mph when I would swerve right no noise, swerve left I heard a little wump wump wump wump wump wheel bearing sort of noise.
Got home, dark, parked it.
Today, left for work at 8am. No noise at all, nothing. Not even when I swerve around going 60+mph. Then I got within 3 blocks of my work and I took a sharp right turn going 30mph. All of a sudden, same loud growling noise. Continued through three stop signs, made a right turn, left turn, and right turn, parked. When I left work, No more noise at all.
When on the way home, I noticed the steering wheel was vibrating like crazy almost like a tie rod end was loose. Then I would go around a curve and it would be just fine. Its an odd problem.
I guess I would like some ideas as to what I should check. I have a feeling a wheel bearing is coming apart however there are no ABS lights on or anything.
Could a bad wheel bearing cause a steering wheel vibration? Could it be fine one second and not the next?
At a loss here guys, any suggestions?
Also Bob, whats the smallest size pulley I should be safe running? I have ported t-body, zzp 2.5" bolt in DP, autolite 605's, DHP PCM. I currently have a 3.5", should I get a modular system? Is it worth the extra cost to just drop to a 3.4"? I would really not want to sacrafice my motor.
Thanks!