Car Issue - Calling All GearHeads

[DemmBalls]

To Start...I am fairly handy and familiar with working on cars, but I have an issue here that is puzzling me. My wife's 2002 ZTS Mach Audio Focus, had the front left wheel bearing/hub assembly replaced in September 2011 (about 6 months ago). Now recently the car began to vibrate, grind, and has a slight squeal while in motion. I thought it was coming from the right side of the car, so figured NO BRAINER...It's the other wheel bearing. I replaced that over the weekend...WRONG!!! The sounds and vibration are still there.

Three thoughts are coming to my mind right now.

1. It could be a bad Intermediate Shaft Bearing (I'm not sure how to test for this)
2. It could be a bad CV Joint (symptoms don't seem quite right though)
3. It could be a faulty wheel bearing on the left side that has already gone bad?

Can any of you fellow gearheads give some insite on this? Any thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

[apple2]

If you replaced it with a quality part and your wife didn't thrash the car the left wheel should be fine. I'd go with the intermediate shaft bearing. Not sure how to test either. Google is your friend

[jdouglas]

I reread your post right before posting this. Was the hub assembly fully pre-assembled? Did you grease the bearing? now remember I wrote the rest before this.

I know a fair bit about cars.... I can rebuild a motor haha and put a suspension together that I take apart.

Every wheel bearing that has ever needed replacing to my knowledge normally doesn't make the car vibrate at least in the beginning stages.

If you get to the top of a hill and drop the car into neutral windows down and the radio off. With out applying the brakes, do you hear a grinding whirring noise? If so its a wheel bearing.

CV joint should only pop if you turn the wheel while moving. Early stages you normally have to turn the wheel all the way.

top vibration causes.
-bent wheel (out of round tire)
-alignment (this includes bad tierod ends etc.)

[DemmBalls]

If you replaced it with a quality part and your wife didn't thrash the car the left wheel should be fine. I'd go with the intermediate shaft bearing. Not sure how to test either. Google is your friend

She is fairly easy on cars, but I forget who the manufacturer of the bearing was? Could be a crap part?

I reread your post right before posting this. Was the hub assembly fully pre-assembled? Did you grease the bearing? now remember I wrote the rest before this.

I know a fair bit about cars.... I can rebuild a motor haha and put a suspension together that I take apart.

Every wheel bearing that has ever needed replacing to my knowledge normally doesn't make the car vibrate at least in the beginning stages.

If you get to the top of a hill and drop the car into neutral windows down and the radio off. With out applying the brakes, do you hear a grinding whirring noise? If so its a wheel bearing.

CV joint should only pop if you turn the wheel while moving. Early stages you normally have to turn the wheel all the way.

top vibration causes.
-bent wheel (out of round tire)
-alignment (this includes bad tierod ends etc.)

Thanks for the input.

To my knowledge it is a sealed bearing, so no grease is required. I may be mistaken here?

I did the top of a hill trick (in neutral) and the vibration and grinding/ticking/humming was still there. I think it's leaning towards another bad bearing? At 6 months old??? WTF!

Edit: Will a wheel bearing make a squealing noise? It especially makes this noise when the wheel is cut to the left while moving.

Please keep the suggestions coming!

[West Coast Jungle]

How many miles? Sounds like the CV joint to me. I have had one go and it does vibrate, could run like that for a while (depending how bad it is) but if it blows you are stranded.

[jdouglas]

I certainly would say its a wheel bearing. Here is some good information give this a read!
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...enance/3571667

The hill trick is a dead give away, that took the brakes, and power train out of the question.

And CV axles normally wont make any noise even when broken. if there isn't any power applied to them from the transmission.

Also a snip it from this "Then slather some fresh wheel-bearing grease on the spindle and slide the new bearing hub home. Torque the spindle nut" This is regarding greasing the wheel bearing.

Its possible if the spindle was not spotlessly clean any dirt or sand then it would tear apart a new bearing in just a few months. Or driving through deep water could certainly cause this.

[twoninerfan]

I certainly would say its a wheel bearing. Here is some good information give this a read!
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...enance/3571667

The hill trick is a dead give away, that took the brakes, and power train out of the question.

And CV axles normally wont make any noise even when broken. if there isn't any power applied to them from the transmission.

Also a snip it from this "Then slather some fresh wheel-bearing grease on the spindle and slide the new bearing hub home. Torque the spindle nut" This is regarding greasing the wheel bearing.

Its possible if the spindle was not spotlessly clean any dirt or sand then it would tear apart a new bearing in just a few months. Or driving through deep water could certainly cause this.

It could also simply be the brakes. I had to help my friend with her car and we thought it was a wheel bearing or something and it turned out to be a brake caliper dragging. To me though that does seem like a wheel bearing or CV joint. Hope it is something cheap and easy!

[DemmBalls]

Thanks for the info everyone. When I installed the bearing/hub on the driver side, I did not own a torque wrench and the bearing/hub kit did not come with a new axle nut. What I am getting at is I may have overtightened the axle nut or it may have been dirty? Hmmm...


Please keep the thoughts coming.