Grinding/Galling noise from pass front

[Chad91GTZ]

Hi all.

I have a grinding galling noise coming from what I "think" is the right front wheel. I assumed it was a wheel bearing, as it is the *only* part on that side of the car that was not replaced less than 200 miles ago. Literally, even the steering knuckle is new.


After replacing my alternator in a parking lot tonight, (thats a different story, but it locked up tighter than dick's hat band on my way to work this morning and smoked all the way through a brand new belt) I got home and tore into the wheel bearing.


ITS FINE. Im not sure what the issue is. I get a grinding noise while moving at speed, even with the slightest nudge of the steering wheel to the right. It sounds like the wheel is going to rip from the car.

My next guess was the brand new axle that I just installed, but its I need to drive the car to work tomorrow and I dont have another axle besides my core lying around to test, and its junk as well.

While I had the bearing off I did try to massage the cv joint a bit and it felt a bit clunky inside, and it should be a rather smooth motion. Its hard to tell whether it was bad or not. I did have it compressed slightly, because I couldn't get the axle out of the knuckle with the tie rod attached. (if this is possible I would really like to know, because if it is the axle I am having the car aligned tomorrow and I dont want to mess my alignment up again)


Thanks guys.

[Kris GTwhat?]

is your car a 5 speed?? i know if it has an intermediate shaft, sometimes the bearing that the shaft rotates in can go bad and cause a similar noise

[scd88ga]

Chad, my car made the same noise, and then the this happened!

The wheel bearing separated, cracked, and then broke the axle end off! Prior to that the wheel bearing had no play in it but made noise still, the day after the noise started is when it broke! It was the original bearing and axle from 94, and the axle nut was torqued to spec...

[Chad91GTZ]

It doesn't just not have any play, it feels as good as the brand new bearing. I know ill probably need it someday but I'd like to not have to install the bearing to test it.

[Chad91GTZ]

[quote="Kris GTwhat?"]is your car a 5 speed?? i know if it has an intermediate shaft, sometimes the bearing that the shaft rotates in can go bad and cause a similar noise[/quote

It's on my 96 Z. 3100 auto.

[scd88ga]

It doesn't just not have any play, it feels as good as the brand new bearing. I know ill probably need it someday but I'd like to not have to install the bearing to test it.

Text me tomorrow morning like you did today when you're stranded on the side of the road again!

[Chad91GTZ]

Remind me why we are friends? lol

[scd88ga]

Remind me why we are friends? lol

So you have someone to text while waiting for a tow?


Not going anywhere for a while? Why wait? Grab a

[3X00-Modified]

If you turn to the right and its making noise then it's not a right wheel bearing... Those will typically make noise when you weight them, or the opposite way your turning when you get noise is typically the bad bearing... Turning right your loading the LF with force, turning left the RF, so I would almost lean toward CV if it's coming from the RF when you turn right.

Swap the bearings up front from side to side first if you want and see if the noise follows... Free way to test it.

[Chad91GTZ]

That's what I thought, but its brand new. It goes away completely while turning left. But only makes the noise when at highway speed.

[3X00-Modified]

if your turning left your putting the weight on the right front so I highly doubt its the bearing... also with the CV's they get noisy anytime you turn really and don't tend to just go away depending on direction.

I would try exchanging bearings from one side to the other and see if the symptom changes direction.

[Chad91GTZ]

I'll try that tonight.

[Chad91GTZ]

Both of the rear bearings are shot, just as well I guess cuz the guy doing the alignment stripped studs out on both sides... Lawl.

So ad that to the list.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

[DTMAce]

Yikes.

Pretty bad when you have to put car parts on the Christmas list.... LOL