I'm getting this grinding sound from the front drivers side wheel when I roll slowly and make a left turn. It sounds similar to a tire rubbing on the fender. I'm running a straight axle but have a disc brake conversion. Everything looks good. No rubbing, brake lines are good, brakes, etc. I changed the wheel bearings on the inner and outer. The bearings looked normal but had some signs of heat (slight brown). The races looked fine, so I left them in and only replaced the bearings. I'm still getting the noise. Can the races cause this problem even with new bearings? I noticed the grinding noise gets worse when I accelerate quickly and then turn to the left. Not sure what to look for anymore.
For a race to make that noise, the race would have noticable chunks missing. Something else is making the noise...But, if it's when you are turning left, the right side wheel bearings would be where to look. When you turn left, the weight gets loaded to the right front.
The races looked smooth and didn't look any different than the ones that came with the new bearings. I didn't change the outer bearing on the hub on the side that would be causing the problems because the bearing looked good. The side I think the grind is coming from, I replaced both inner and outer. I cleaned it and repacked them and put it back together. Maybe I should replace that bearing and see what happens. I guess what I'm asking here is how do I tell if it's the bearings causing the noise without having to replace the races, bearing, seals etc. There isn't any play in the bearing when I check it with the wheels on and the wheel spins fine. It only comes on at slow speeds and turning. Otherwise, it's fine and doesn't make the noise.
If there is a dust shield on the brakes is it hitting when the wheel is turned or is the caliper hitting something when the wheel is turned hard to the left? Are the races tight in the hubs? I'm like the other in that the race is half of the bearing and I always change both pieces when changing a bearing. As F&J said, when you turn to the left the weight of the car gets loaded on the right front wheel and usually you hear a noise when it is loaded. You might try jacking the car up with a floor jack under the axle and turn the wheel to the left and spin the wheel and see if you can see or hear anything.
with all of these could haves.... I hate to say it. But it COULD be a cracked spindle. Had that happen on a buddies car once. Hope for your sake that isn't it.
There are no dust shields on the brakes. I didn't check the races to tightness but did check them when I repacked the bearings and they looked fine. I've jacked the car up and there is no grinding sound when turning in either direction. It must be happending under a load condition.
My drag link is on the drivers side. The pitman arm comes out just behind the tire and the draglink runs parallel with the whieel. Nothing is rubbing there either. It's no where near the harmonic balancer.
Boy, I hope that isn't it either, but I'll check it out. There is an inner race that went onto the spindle with the disc conversion. That race had to be put on with heat and we used a torch to heat it up and slide the race on. Maybe that race has a crack? I don't recall seeing one there. I see this is not going to be easy, I appreciate the comments and suggestions, they are helpful.
Disassemble and inspect with good lighting. Check everything with a fine tooth comb. If it's making a grinding or swishing noise, it's almost certainly rubbing. That leaves marks... somewhere. Maybe small, maybe hard to find. But they're there. Lots of good maybes to check. I'd add brake pads; have had them make noise on turns just like you describe. If it is pad noise, that could be indicative of bad pads, caliper mounting, even the aforementioned cracked spindle, or something else. BTW, can the caliper or its mount bracket be hitting the rotor? Oh, and X3 on replacing bearing cups and cones together. You can buy 'em separately; in fact you can do a bunch of mix & match with 'em if they are from the same manufacturer and 'family'. One cup may have several cones with different diameters and widths that work with it. But they don't mix well with other parts once they've been run; at least that's what I've always been taught. -Bill
Thanks Bill. I've been checking with the fine tooth comb for a while. That's the frustrating part. No marks. I did remove the dust cap on the hub on the driver's side and found that the end of the spindle was rubbing on the dust cap and even the cotter pin was touching the cap. Thinking this was the problem, I bought a new cap, replaced it, drove around and no noise. Then I made a turn and the noise returned. Pulled it off again to see if it was rubbing. The cap was clean, no rubbing. Check the other side, same thing, no rubbing. I was sure I found it!
I would take the calipers off and use Disc Brake Quiet on the back of the pads, put them back in. You may have a loose pad making noise. Also re-install the calipers with new hardware, use brake lube on all metal-to-metal surfaces and on the brake hardware. Bob
The noise may not be coming from the front end. Vibration (noise) transmits through metal very well. Check the condition of the rear bearings.
I was thinking the same thing because I had to pull the axles a few times to install the rear disc setup. However, if it were coming from the rear bearings, I shouldn't be able to feel a grind on the steering wheel, which I do. I already took the calipers off the front and lube the hardware a few weeks ago, that didn't make a difference. I didn't put anything on the pads to quiet them, so I may try that. Hey, I'm open to anything at this point. I may pull the axle and check the bearings there as well. If the bearing was bad in the rear, wouldn't that make a grinding noise all the time, versus turning left? Another idea was that maybe the U joints on the driveshaft could be going getting bad, but then again, why only when I'm turning. I may check the caliper mounts again to make sure all is still tight. I could always pull the front end and install a Mustang II front.
That really sounds like a bad front bearing. What I would do first: Pull the pads out or caliper off. Put the tires back on and manually spin them as fast as you can. Put your finger on the back of the spindle to see if you feel vibrations....or have a friend hold a LONG screwdriver with the tip on the spindle back and the end of the handle covering his ear. You should be able to hear if the bearings are smooth, or junk.
You said it occurs when you are turning left and more when you accelerate and turn left, both are taking load off of the left side, I am sure you have but did you jack up the left only and try to recreate the sound? Could the races be spinning in the hub? maybe peen or mark the races and take it for a drive...
How old school is this trick? I figured that the OP already ruled out the bearings, but this is a great trick. You can even put a finger on the front bumper and feel the coarseness if you have a bad bearing. It won't feel uniform, it'll have a growl as the wheel spins. Bob
In your initial post you said it sounded like a tire on the fender. Are you sure you looked everywhere for rub marks? You don't say what car or suspension, but could the tire be hitting drag links, fenders, fender braces, shock mounts, headlights, extra long brake hoses, sway bar, wishbones/4-bars? Very common on a lowered car to have interference, and you may need to remove the wheel to see it. I'd have a buddy ride with me, stick their head out the window, and then you turn to make the sound on purpose. Your buddy may be able to discover the source better than you behind the steering wheel.
I'm sorry guys, lack of info. It's a 56 Ford F100 truck. It still has the straight axle with leaf springs front end. I did install a drop axle 3" drop on the front and am running reverse eye main leaf springs. I checked the tie rod, drag links, pitman arm, brackets, etc. I've checked the rims and just about everything for some type of grinding or rubbing and I don't see it. I haven't tried to jack the truck up on the axle which would keep my same ride height and then turn the wheels and see if anything is rubbing. I haven't changed anything and it didn't make this noise before. It just came on suddenly but seems to be getting worse or more frequent. My tie rod arm goes behind the straight axle and under the rear portion of the oil pan, if that helps. I do have a steering dampener (shock) mounted to assist on steering. Maybe that shock is making the grinding noise??? I may pull it off and see if makes a difference. It's only a couple of nuts and it comes off. Thanks everyone great suggestions.
The arm that goes from the pitman arm to the steering arm that is attached to the left front spindle, has two springs inside one at each end it sounds as if these are broken or no grease, or out of adjustment due to the new lowered axle. Did you lower the steering arm when you installed new lowered axle. More than likely you did or your tie rod will hit springs.
Actually, if my brain isn't farting already this morning, on a left turn the load is on the right side inner bearing, and the left side outer bearing....vica versa on a right turn. Think about it. It "IS" one of the 2 brngs per side that takes the load in a turn
I adjusted the drag link correctly and the steering arm was lowered. I think I'll check it again for lubrication. With the car lifted on one side and spinning the wheel, it doesn't make the noise, it comes on driving the truck and turning at a 5-10 mile per hour roll and goes away if I drive over 15-30 miles per hour?. BTW- I just checked the caliper bracket bolts and they are tight! Someone recommended checking the drums??? I'm running disc on all fours. I'm thinking about pulling the right side again and checking the bearings. I haven't replaced the outer bearing on the right side, so maybe I'll try that next, it's easy enought to do. Everything else has been replaced with the exception of the bearing races which I should of done in the first place. I have a hunch it's not the bearings, but I'm at the point where I'm pulling and replacing them to make sure. I looked and spun the wheels again, call me an idiot, I've been working on cars for decades and I can't find this one!
UPDATE- OK guys, I'm getting closer. I replaced the right side bearing and races and the same thing. While driving, I was doing circles making a left turn. A guy came and told me the noise is coming from the right rear. It's definitely the rear. I have disc brake using Cadillac Seville calipers. My guess it may be either the pads? or the rear axle bearing. My question, how do I check if it's the axle bearing without pulling the axle? What should I look for on the disc brakes on the rear? These Cadillac calipers are a pain to work with.
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