Ok, so yea, I was driving along and noticed a slight, rhythmic thumping (in rhythm with wheel speed, not engine speed).. after about a week, it became a real problem. At first, I thought it was a tire 'cause I got them used (Kumho SPTs.. 215/35/18), but after a tire finally did blow out on me, the sound was still there. So after describing the sound and characteristics, 11 people voted wheel bearing, including me. Well after replacing it today, it proved to NOT be the culprit, so now I lay my mercy to you guys.. so here's the details:
The sound is more of a thumping/knocking.. maybe even a rattle if you will. But here's the kicker.. its not so bad going strait, but when I turn the wheel to the right, it gets worse. When I turn the wheel to the left, it goes away all together.. so now the vote is swaying toward CVs, but I dont have the money to "troubleshoot" by swapping in new parts everywhere. I know the CVs make more of a clicking noise, but I'll take any suggestions I can. BTW, the other (passenger side) wheel bearing was replaced less than a yr ago, the ball joints were replaced a yr and a half ago, and the rest of the front end has 47k miles on it.. just so you guys know how old some of this stuff is..
One more thing to consider.. the tranny MAY have been run low on oil (Getrag 5spd), but I didnt know how to check the fluid level, so I just added more and went about my way. Someone said it might be a diff bearing, but no one else thinks its tranny-related 'cause the tranny itself feels good (no jolting or vibration in the shifter, no hard-to-get gears, etc.)...
R.I.P. JessE Gerard 7.11.87 - 1.25.08
The Radiation Nation Facebook Twitter Twisted Metal Alliance
its your axle. i had a click that would come and go, mostly during turning, sometimes during straightaways, but the clicking became hard thumping when doing soft right downhill turns. Change ya axle.
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- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -
Id vote for axle too since mine is doing the same thing, but on the axle side. I would check to see if you have any play in your axle.
i meant right (pass.) side
ok then, which axle would it be? the noise seems to be coming from the driver's side, so I'm assuming that one.. maybe turning left relieves any pressure from the turning joints and softens the noise?
R.I.P. JessE Gerard 7.11.87 - 1.25.08
The Radiation Nation Facebook Twitter Twisted Metal Alliance
Couple questions. Which wheel bearing did you replace? Wheel bearing noise can be tricky to figure out. You might think the noise is in the front, but could be the back, or other way around.
FU Tuning
yea, the mechanic listened to it as I drove past him (he's WAY too big to fit in the car) and he thought it was a rear tire.. even tho I thought the noise was comin from the front.. we replaced the driver's side bearing, and the passenger side about a yr ago
R.I.P. JessE Gerard 7.11.87 - 1.25.08
The Radiation Nation Facebook Twitter Twisted Metal Alliance
i vote for tire also
belt separation
thump thump thumpp
cv shaft going out is usualyl a pop or a really odd snap only when turning
balljoint needs to be ruled out also
by jacking up the front and trying to tilt the lower part of the wheel in or out(away or towards the drivetrain
see if it moves easily or has slop in it
if not then check tire
feel the entire tread area of the tire all the way around for any bowing or wave
or bulge uneven area, large or small
if you feel any then it means the tire is garbage, a belt snapped inside of it
and this is common somewhat
i ahve had and seen many like this
one of them on my uncles new 97 cavvy is shot even though the tires are at least half life
belts break or separate
it happens, cant do much about it
age(old tires are good for doing this)
quality(get what you pay for)
treatment(how its been driven)
its random
good luck
-96 cavalier 2.2 auto 143k miles
well, I've got the 3rd set of tires on it yesterday and its still doing it with no change in tone, pitch, or noise..
and both tires dont seem to have much, if any, slop or play in them...
and the ball joints were replaced about a yr and a hlaf ago
R.I.P. JessE Gerard 7.11.87 - 1.25.08
The Radiation Nation Facebook Twitter Twisted Metal Alliance
