There is a loud squeek/grind from the driver's side wheel area ONLY if I am doing a sharp turn (steering all the way over to the left) AND going downhill (e.g. leaving a driveway).

Is this the classic shot wheel bearing problem, or could it be something else (strut, steering rod)?

If it is a wheel bearing, what's the risk driving on it? I don't do hard turns downhill out of a driveway all that often.

Thanks for any advice.

 

More likely to be a tie rod end or CV joint....

Jack the car up and grab the driver's side tire at 3 and 9 o'clock and wiggle it to see if there is excessive play... if it feels loose, then its probably the tie rod ends. If you wiggle the wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock and it feels loose, then it could be the bearings.

To check the CV joint, just look and see if the boot is torn and if there is grease coming out of it, if not, then that's not it. If the boot is torn and leaking grease, then the joint isn't properly lubricated and that's why there is a grinding noise. See also:

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/400

If its bearings, you should also be able to hear a pulsating at higher speeds.

 

how about checking your brake pads?

 

Steering stop could also be grinding against bare metal. Put some grease there. Happened to me.

 

i think its just the horrendous boston roads thats messing up people's cars.

i just installed my axxis brake pads and replaced my front rotors and it squeaks when i touch the brake pedal. my front suspension feels harder when i hit some small holes or bumps. im at 40000 only....

Im going to bring my maxima to the October Nissan Courtesy Check when i have the chance.

 

maximo-se...are you running the axxis ultimates? I just got them in not too long ago, and they are freakin ANNOYING...screeches each time I lightly tap the brakes...only happens during operating temps...

 

Go to Quirk Nissan in Quincy. They will offer to replace your tranny for any squeeks they hear.

 

really... ill do that when i head in. thanks

 

that, or if you recently did brake work, you probably bent the dust shield behind the rotor a little and it's making contact occasinally with the back of the rotor. common problem...bend it back a little.

 

thanks irish. ill mess with that over the weekend.

 

hmmm...might have to try that.

 

 

yea i have been havin the same kind of proble. when i turned my wheel all the way in one direction and then i drive off my drive way i hear a high pitch squeak that comes from i think my right front suspension

 

your problem is different. check out the bump stops on the back of the steering knuckle - where it "bumps" into the lower control arm at the turn limit. The plastic cap will probably either be missing or worn through. Replace the little plastic cap ($1 at the dealer) and then apply some grease to the place on the LCA where it bumps. This will eliminate your squeak. Promise.

 

Actually his problem sounds identical.

Mine:
There is a loud squeek/grind from the driver's side wheel area ONLY if I am doing a sharp turn (steering all the way over to the left) AND going downhill (e.g. leaving a driveway).

His:
When i turned my wheel all the way in one direction and then i drive off my drive way i hear a high pitch squeak that comes from i think my right front suspension

But cool, thanks for the tip AND the promise

 

The bumpstop problem is more likely if you are stopped, turn the wheel all the way to one way, and then go (like if you were exiting parallel parking spot). It wouldn't be affected by going downhill, I don't think (since the bump stop and control arm do not change respective angles). I mean, it's worth a quick check, but it's unlikely that this is YOUR problem (while I think it IS his problem).

Your symptoms sound more like the dust shield, or perhaps the strut upper mount bearing gone bad.

(btw, I say all of the above from experience with all 3 of these problems at one point or another)....

 

I have this exact same problem. The dealer tells me that the little plastic steering stop on the drivers side fell off. I'm supposed to have a new one installed next week. I'll let you know if it fixes the problem.

 

You let the dealer fix that one for you? Could you let me know what they charge you for it? Just curious.

 

does anyone know the part number to the bump stop that irish is talking about?

 

wish I did...call Dave B and he can tell you. Just ask for a "steering bump stop cap"...it's a little white plastic piece and the guy at my dealer knew exactly what I was talking about.

 

Sure enough, my drivers side cap was missing.

Part #40039-D0100, description "cap - stop", cost $1.44

Thanks!

 

Wait where is the bump stop for that im a lil confused on where to look?

 

jack up the car (hold up with jack stands), crawl under, look around behind the front wheels, and you'll eventually see a metal threaded bolt sticking out 2-3" (if you have someone turn the steering all the way to the right repeatedly, you'll see/hear it bumping against the control arm). The bump stop is a hexagonal-shaped white plastic piece that goes on the end of that bolt. Sorry, I don't know how to describe it better than that...

 

VERY Common problem--Search the old threads for explanations.

http://www.arches.uga.edu/~arslaan/bumpstop.jpg

this is a pic of the left wheel, taken from underneath the car, slightly behind the wheel. i circled the "bump" and the "stop". In this case, when you turn all the way left, the bump is stopped when it grinds against the metal of the stop. you can even see how my "stop" got scraped up. go buy a plastic cap to put over the bump and grease everything up. well not everything. just on the car.