Front end noise/vibration

[glastron]

I have a front end noise/vibration developing. It sounds like it could be the bearings/bushings. Has anyone had this problem and been able to fix it on there own? It is related to the speed of the vehical.

[FormulaLT1]

Could be Tie Rod or bearing/ball joint. Best bet to find it is to jack the car up remove the wheels. Get under there and look for play in any of the front end suspension pieces. Good Luck.

John

[glastron]

Thanks FormulaLT1

After just picking up the kids from school, I started to think about what the problem could be. Its a 96 GrAm with 86,000. The noise/vibration is more pronounced on right hand turns @ approx 65-75mph. I will jack it up and see if I can get any play to lead me to the defective part. The tire does feel a little feathered, but I can not determine if it is the bearings or the ball joint.

If I jack it up, put it in drive and let the wheel spin--if the bearing are bad would they make a strange noise, even if they are not loaded?

Jason

[Madcat455]

Originally Posted by glastron

Thanks FormulaLT1


If I jack it up, put it in drive and let the wheel spin--if the bearing are bad would they make a strange noise, even if they are not loaded?

Jason

Not unless they were really gone. Friend has a 2001 GA that she just started having noise like yours. No vib. though. With the car up in the air there was no noise or play in the setup, Nothing moved "unaturally". Let it back down and you can hear the noise again while driving. Although hers is at low speeds, and louder on Left turns and not there at all on right turns. That just means that its the right side Hub assy. that's bad.

What kind of noise is it??? clunking, grinding, whistleing, Neighbors cat , etc.

Ball joint would make a Clunking sound with changes in direction, stopping, bumps.

Hub Assy. would make a grinding noise.

Good Luck.

[glastron]

It sounds like a growl/hum. Vibrations felt moslty with right hand steering efforts. Straight and to the left and it almost goes away. It depends some on the road surface I am driving on-black fresh and rough, or grey old and smooth. I have not fiqured out which one is worse. Vib and noise are on the left, and I can feel it through the steering wheel. Speeds it starts are at apporx. 60. It smooths out at about 78-80, but any vib would at those speeds. I put it in neutral to verify it is not in the engine. On a rough road or a bump /turn situation I have heard a clunk from the suspension.

Jason

[Madcat455]

Jack up the LF tire and check for play. Leave the steering wheel locked and the RF tire on the ground.

If no play or movement is noticed, then rotate the tires on the left side only.

If nothing changes (vib is still there, noise doesn't change in pitch or volume, and speed sensitivity is the same).

It could be a number of things or possibly two or more.

Strut bushing will cause a clunk & bad vib., but usually only after going over a bump or something.

Wheel bearing Hub assy, will cause grinding and could thunk if its WAY gone, but you'd feel that when the tire is in the air if its that bad.

Ball joint won't cause grinding but will thunk.... Extreme cases will grind only while wheel is turned right or left, but speed won't matter.

I'm leaning torward a hub assy. but check everything, you don't want to loose a ball joint at 60mph

Doub't its a tie rod, unless multiple things are wrong.