Hey folks,

I have been experiencing grinding noise when I turn hard left on slow speed. The grinding seems to get louder when I go faster. No howling or the usual noise on the straight line on any speed. I jacked the car up and checked for the wheel slop and it has no slops in ANY direction (axial, 12/6, 3/9). Brake pads are OK too. I thought it was the strut mounts, but I replaced these few months back too (MOOG ones). I had axles clicking noise before, so this isn't it and the axles are in good condition too. Both wheels spins smooth too.

I think my passenger side wheel bearing is on its way out, but I don't have wheel slop/play nor ANY howling noise. The howling noise is usually due to the wheel slop but its nature. Could it be that I have good bearing but bad hub spline?

What do yo guys think? I have both Timkens on hands and ready to drop it in just wondering if I need to get the hubs also.

 

I don't believe the hubs will ever go bad unless the bearing takes them out.

 

I used to be in the "no need to replace the hubs if they look good" club myself; then my front bearing went out not 4 months after pressing it in due to not replacing the hub. Since then, I always say replace the hub for peace of mind... Just my .02

 

When I took the passenger side wheel bearing out, it was tight, no play, smooth, but nonetheless I replaced it. During the process, I inspected the ball joint and it was, to my surprise, very good tight and no play. I did replaced the tie rod end with NAPA brand which looks beefy and very similar or yet better than Moog brand.
bottom with blue boot is NAPA brand, top is stock


Pretty beefy IMO.


Went for a drive and at the very first left turn at low speed (<15 mph) I could still hear the rumbling/low pitch clicking noise on the left front. So, pretty much everything is new on the left side other than the Hub assy and the axle. I didn't replace the hub since it was still good (diameter wise and surface finish). I might jack up the car with the wheels on and let it run to see if I can hear anything.

 

Did you check out your axle? Are both sleeves intact?
Roll down the window, and drive slowly. Also, mix forward with backwards driving. If the axle is bad you should hear distinct clicks (or worse).

 

My passenger side is slightly clicking when it is dead lock turning left at 10 mph. I thought it was my strut bearing, then wheel bearing, but I think it is the axle now ( looks like the OEM Nissan, car has 162K). I jacked the car up this morning and look the axle closely. It has loose boot with oil seepage and axial play, which I don't have on the driver side ( was replaced about 10K miles ago).

I don't think a good CV axle should have that much of play and it looks like the outer CV. Here is the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePoU...TfLbCxxrYqz7RQ

What do you all think?

 

Update.

Found the boot clamp is loose and grease seepage. Re-packed with new grease and the noise is gone!

I know eventually I would need axle, but with new grease I'm hoping I can extend the life a little bit.