Front wheel make noise

[maxl1961]

My 95 Rodeo(RWD) 3.2L front wheels makes noise gradually over years. It becomes very obviously recently. When drive slowly, I can even see my steering wheel vibrates and the car pulls to left slightly.

I checked my front wheels/tires/brake/brake disc and found no obviously loosen/broken parts. It is rear wheel driven.

Anybody can give me some hints? Can I mount a camcorder under the car and find something wrong by looking the recorded video?

Thanks a lot!

maxl

[gorillaweld]

It sounds like you need to check your wheel bearings. let me know if you need help with that.
Gorillaweld

[zombie_tech]

As gorillaweld mentioned, check your wheel bearings. At the very least you may need to grease them if not replace them outright.

[maxl1961]

Thanks, Gorillaweld and zombie_tech. I will update its status after I check them. Since it is too cold outside, I probably have to wait since I don't have garage.

maxl,

[Cat Fuzz]

To be a bit more specific, you should be looking at the bearing races. They can become scored and crazed over time and start to make noise.

[zombie_tech]

Originally Posted by maxl1961

Thanks, Gorillaweld and zombie_tech. I will update its status after I check them. Since it is too cold outside, I probably have to wait since I don't have garage.

maxl,

Yeah i have the same problem. I live in an apartment and have to wait for decent weather to do any work on my vehicles.

[maxl1961]

Is this what you guys mentioned above?

http://www.planetisuzoo.com/articles.htm/56

Thanks,

maxl

[maxl1961]

Hi, guys.
I repacked my front wheels and changed shock absorbers. Swapped the rear/front tires. Same problem.

I should say it is not the noise. It is the shaking and vibrating the front wheels in the low speed. If I drive very slow like 10mph. I can see the steering wheel vibrates itself. The front body of the car shock vertically? No obvious broken parts. I definitely have allignment problem. But that shouldn't be the root cause of the vibration.

Any comments, suggestion. Any idea how much the shop usually charge for this problem?

Appreciate any feedback!

maxl1961

[bishop242]

Originally Posted by maxl1961

Hi, guys.
I repacked my front wheels and changed shock absorbers. Swapped the rear/front tires. Same problem.

I should say it is not the noise. It is the shaking and vibrating the front wheels in the low speed. If I drive very slow like 10mph. I can see the steering wheel vibrates itself. The front body of the car shock vertically? No obvious broken parts. I definitely have allignment problem. But that shouldn't be the root cause of the vibration.

Any comments, suggestion. Any idea how much the shop usually charge for this problem?

Appreciate any feedback!

maxl1961

Do you get vibration in the steering wheel at speed? 30 - 40 - 50 mph?
Any obvious unusual wear on either front tire (cupping or outer edge wear)?
You might try jacking up the front end and spin the wheels by hand while looking across the outer face of the tires to see if there is any wobble like you might find with a bent rim.

[maxl1961]

The vibration is always there regardless the speed. When drive it slowly, like < 20mph. It is more obvious since I can see the steering wheel moves by itself.
There is no unusual wearing in the front tires although the inner tire was worn more. All front wheels were moved to the rear. I guess the rims are OK.

No broken/Loosen parts as far as I can see.

Thanks again.

[srvfin]

Mine just started making some noise and haven't had time to investigate. I have a 95.5, 2WD 5-speeed, 3.2 V6, 165,000 miles. Great vehical except this "rattling" noise the last month or so. To me it sounds like maybe a broken shock or maybe a rubber bushing wore out and needing replacing. Bearings were good at 110,000 when I replaced (original) brake linings which by the way were not even worn half way yet! I tell ya, 3 batteries, 3 sets of tires, 1 starter, 1 alternator, 1 timing belt and oil changes (synthetic) every 3000 religiously and I am totally impressed with this daily driver. Hoping to go another 300,000 on her. I do wish someone had a suggestion about the rattling noise though.

Thanks Guys!

KC

[maxl1961]

165,000 miles!!! That's good. I have only 48,000 miles on this 11 years old baby. I can not afford this gas *uck for daily commute.
BTW, I am gonna to send it to shop tonight. Hopefully they can find something for me. I will update information when it is available.

[maxl1961]

I took my Rodeo back from PepBoys shop. They replaced 2 tires. balanced the 2 front wheels. They did the alignment as well. Now it is much better, Good service.

I think it is multiple facts contribute these shock and vibration. It is no a single default part.

maxl1961

[srvfin]

I guess I should have posted this before now and hope I'm not breaking the rules for posting on such an old thread, but I finally figured out what the noise was. It appears that through the years of getting new tires and having them rotated, the brilliant tire guys were not re-installing the spring washers back onto the center hubs on my wheels, which caused all the racket. Quick fix, just pulled some off the others and installed on the noisy culprit. Still a daily driver...240,000 miles and starts and drives like a dream....