Noise when turning: Wheel bearing or CV Joint?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Noise when turning: Wheel bearing or CV Joint?
Little background: 95 Max SE around 175k miles (I say around because odometer stopped working 3 years ago). I've replaced both CV joints in the past as well as the wheel bearings on the drivers side.
Tuesday night driving around 75mph for 20 miles, turned took off ramp (right turn) and I get a popping - thudding sound coming from the drivers side front wheel area. The sound made me think the wheel might fall off. I had to wait through a couple of lights to get off the off ramp and to a parking lot. By the time I get to a parking lot it's no longer making the noise. Took a look and can't see anything noticably wrong. Driving home I hear the noise again when turning right but it's not as loud (or I'm not as nervous). The next day on my way to work I get a squeeling noise on slight right hand curves, on tighter curves it has a thud-thud-thud noise simular to a tire with a bad cup or lump. These noises are only appearent at speeds > 30mph. Driving in my parking garage with tight right hand turns I don't hear anything.
I replaced the CV joints in the past because the boots ruptured, so there wasn't any other symptoms. I've read that a clunking noise while turning is usually a CV joint, but I though this is at lower speeds like in a parking lot. The squeeling makes me think its a wheel bearing, but I can't figure out how/why a bad wheel bearing would make a thumpping noise.
Tuesday night driving around 75mph for 20 miles, turned took off ramp (right turn) and I get a popping - thudding sound coming from the drivers side front wheel area. The sound made me think the wheel might fall off. I had to wait through a couple of lights to get off the off ramp and to a parking lot. By the time I get to a parking lot it's no longer making the noise. Took a look and can't see anything noticably wrong. Driving home I hear the noise again when turning right but it's not as loud (or I'm not as nervous). The next day on my way to work I get a squeeling noise on slight right hand curves, on tighter curves it has a thud-thud-thud noise simular to a tire with a bad cup or lump. These noises are only appearent at speeds > 30mph. Driving in my parking garage with tight right hand turns I don't hear anything.
I replaced the CV joints in the past because the boots ruptured, so there wasn't any other symptoms. I've read that a clunking noise while turning is usually a CV joint, but I though this is at lower speeds like in a parking lot. The squeeling makes me think its a wheel bearing, but I can't figure out how/why a bad wheel bearing would make a thumpping noise.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 196
No, it's not the strut bearing noise. Been there, done that. Strut bearing noise is usually only while turning the wheel, my noise is on a long sweeping right turn on the highway (wheel turned to the right but held steady), also the noise only heard with the wheel turning at speeds > 30mph.
Donating Maxima.org Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 325
A bad CV will wiggle in the joint if you jerk the shaft around by hand....a minute amount of play is OK as there are clearances for grease and parts to warm up etc.
A bad wheel bearing will get louder/quieter with load applied or removed respectively. Like changing lanes on the highway....this is my bet by the sounds of it.
A bad wheel bearing will get louder/quieter with load applied or removed respectively. Like changing lanes on the highway....this is my bet by the sounds of it.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 196
Found a page on diagnosing noises, and from this description it sounds like the wheel bearings. What could cause the new bearings to go out so soon (6 months and under 5k miles). They were new nissan bearings I had pressed into the hub by a machine shop.
7. Constant-velocity joints make a clicking sound when worn. The outer joints click under power on tight turns, and the inner joints will make a noise when you are going around a circle while easing the power on and off.
9. Wheel bearings become noisy when worn out. It's usually possible to isolate a noisy front-wheel bearing by cornering with both front windows open. The worn bearing will get noisier if you put a load on it. If the noise worsens when you corner to the right then it's the left-hand bearing, and vice versa. Wheel bearings can also be checked by jacking the car up and spinning each wheel in turn by hand. The noisy bearing will feel rough. Rear-wheel bearing noise often sounds very much like the rear axle unit, but spinning it by hand should enable you to tell the difference.
see: http://www.cartoday.com/content/car_...se_tracing.asp
9. Wheel bearings become noisy when worn out. It's usually possible to isolate a noisy front-wheel bearing by cornering with both front windows open. The worn bearing will get noisier if you put a load on it. If the noise worsens when you corner to the right then it's the left-hand bearing, and vice versa. Wheel bearings can also be checked by jacking the car up and spinning each wheel in turn by hand. The noisy bearing will feel rough. Rear-wheel bearing noise often sounds very much like the rear axle unit, but spinning it by hand should enable you to tell the difference.
see: http://www.cartoday.com/content/car_...se_tracing.asp
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