Front Wheel Bearing Going Bad?

[geojim]

Getting a cyclic "rubbing" type noise from the front end that increases with speed. Noise seems to go away when turning in one direction versus the other. No pulling and brakes work fine.

Brake pads were changed not long ago and mechanic showed me some rust/crud on the outer edges of both rotors, but he did not want to change them at that time. Both lower control arms were changed last year.

It was warm enough today where I could jack up both front wheels. Both front wheels drag a little with a rotating rusty kind of noise. Passenger side wheel has a clicking noise when you grab the wheel and move it side to side. Top to bottom and up/down are quite.

I can understand the drag/rusty noise coming from the rotors that need to be changed. The clicking side-side noise is the one that I think needs quick attention. Does it sound like a wheel bearing going bad?

Jim

[DOCTORBILL]

Go see my posting on 10-27-2005 at 7:15 PM

I went thru all this myself.

Unless you are mechanically inclined and have a decent
amount of good tools, go pay to have the front wheel
bearings changed by a mechanic!

Just the wheel bearings, seal and parts cost me about $200
for parts. Don't destroy the ball-tie rod ends like I did.
Wasn't fun...... Can be done, but wasn't fun.

DoctorBill

[geojim]

Thanks DoctorBill. I would have the shop do it anyway as I do not have the tools or space at the new house. I like to have a fairly good idea of what is wrong before taking it to the shop. Jim

[Crvett69]

side to side sounds more like a tie rod end. most shops that do front end alignments will look car over for free and give you a list of what it needs

[geojim]

Tie rod replacement sounds a lot cheaper than replacing wheel bearings, right?

[DOCTORBILL]

Originally Posted by geojim

Tie rod replacement sounds a lot cheaper than replacing wheel bearings, right?

I have exactly the same type '93 Metro as you!

I drove several months thinking I had a lot of "Road Noise" from the tires
etc, when in fact it was the left side Wheel Bearings.

I got that higher level of noise when I turned to the right and it got
louder as I drove faster.

Any good Auto Mechanic could tell you if you have bad wheel bearings!

Try going to a good Brake type shop and ask them if they can check
the Wheel Bearings (for free?)..... They put it up and fiddle with the
wheels and listen.

Once I had the wheel bearings changed the car is almost "silent running"
especially in the snow where road noise is muffled - thought the engine
had died it is so quiet.

Good Luck to you.

Like model trains, eh!? I tried it. Have a 4 x 8 table with styrofoam
and plaster shaped land, but stopped because my kids lost interest.
May start them up again....HO gauge. A small coal burner.
I am an R/C Model airplane maker. I stopped a while back.
All of them still hang from my ceiling.
I am somewhat of a mushroom now.
I am 63, make lots of gas, sit...and watch TV and....... write on this forum......!

DoctorBill

[geojim]

I would not be surprised if it's wheel bearings and a tie rod. The little Geo has a lot of miles on it. On the way to get pizza tonight, I noticed that the noise almost goes away on a right turn. I'll go by the shop sometime this week and have them check it.

Yea, use to have a large n-scale train layout. Didn't have room for it in the new house so I sold the layout. Would like to do another one someday. Use to do R/C airplanes also and had a few hanging from the ceiling much like in your picture. Now it's most genealogy and computer stuff. Such is life...

[geojim]

Geo came out of the shop today. They replaced the driver side wheel bearings. What a difference - runs quite again.