Rumble

[jeffcoslacker]

I have a 1997 LS. It now has 115,000 miles, still runs great. Just replaced the FACTORY spark plugs today! Got my money's worth outta those! I have an interesting couple of noises for you to ponder. I have a loud metal-on-metal shriek when stepping over speedbumps or ruts, comes from the rear. I will replace all the struts soon, and suspect I'll find the cause then. I've heard it in other Luminas, so I guess it's fairly common. The one I'm really scratching my head over is coming from the front. It is a low rumble, somewhat like a hub bearing that's going out. It is audible at any speed, but gets louder with speed increase. It doesn't change pitch with speed, though. It is there with the steering dead ahead, gets much louder when leading to the left, and goes away entirely when led to the right. I rotated the tires, and even replaced all four, with no effect on this sound. I have replaced the front brakes, there is no issues with brakes dragging. I took it to an undercar specialist and a dealer, both of whom agreed it seems like a hub, but can't detect any play or noise with car hoisted. It kinda seems to be pointing to a CV shaft problem, as the sound doesn't change as the car transfers wieght through depressions on the road (hub normally gets louder as the vehicle bears down on it during rebound), but in 20+ years wrenching, I've never heard a shaft make noise like this. One other thing, the noise has been there for over 1 year and 15,000 miles now, with no change in severity or effect on the car's driveability. If it was as bad as it sounds, it should have self-destructed by now. I'm tired of covering it up with radio volume, anybody ever had this before? Thanks!

[jeffcoslacker]

I'm still waiting-Let me say that the noise could be equated to the sound that a power sterring pump makes when low on fluid, except that it only does it with the car in motion, there is no detectable noise when parked and turning the wheel. I'm wondering has anyone had the lack of power assist to one direction that prompted the recall, and if so, was there this kind of noise associated with the problem, or just no assist? This is really bugging me. It could also be described as something like you would expect if there were some part of the motor in direct contact with the body of the car, but it doesn't change in respose to changes in torque on the driveline, and isn't present unless moving. WTF? Somebody's gotta have this problem.

[Kooterskkar]

Might be a tranny problem, but it sounds more like a bad hub bearing.

[jeffcoslacker]

I have ruled out a hub, just because the sound never changes in intesity, regardless of how the car is bearing its weight on the wheels. A hub noise will change with cornering, rebound, etc. but this is constant and unchanging. Also it's been going on for over a year now, a hub would have ground itself up by now. It's strange, my cars always think up problems that noone's seen before. Stuff that never, ever happens on a customer's car. I wondered about the tranny too, but the noise pitch remains constant with vehicle speed, gear change doesn't affect the volume or pitch of the sound, and it changes only with steering input. I'm starting to wonder if there's a C.V. shaft issue that I've never seen before. Maybe I'll call a tranny shop and try to fish for an answer. Thanks for the reply, I was starting to think I'm just talking to myself here!

[1billwilcox]

Did you ever find out what the problem was? I am having the same issue with a 95 Lumina.
Rumble from front end, like driving on knobby tires. Gets louder with speed, doesn't matter what the engine speed is. I was thinking bearing but I don't hear any grinding or klunking sounds. The sound stays constant, even in corners.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by 1billwilcox

Did you ever find out what the problem was? I am having the same issue with a 95 Lumina.
Rumble from front end, like driving on knobby tires. Gets louder with speed, doesn't matter what the engine speed is. I was thinking bearing but I don't hear any grinding or klunking sounds. The sound stays constant, even in corners.

No, it still does it, I'm leaning toward an inner tripot joint on the left side CV shaft. I'm used to hearing outers go bad, with that signature clicking when you corner, but never heard an inner, so I suspect that might be it.

I'll probably inject some grease into the boot with a needle, and see if the sound changes. If so, I'll replace that shaft.

[dwalmop]

The noise you hear coming from the rear - I'm curious about this. Mine sounds like a strut is going to break through the body every time I hit a sizeable bump, and it makes me cringe every time. I've always thought that the problem was the strut mounts in the rear. Once I finally got it on a lift, however, I found the problem to be that the left strut is bad, and it makes the terrible noise I was talking about just simply by compressing/decompressing. Now I just have to find the ambition to install new struts and blow $60.00 on a 4-wheel alignment.