Grinding Noise

[todd8]

Hello, I have a 1999 SL2 that has developed a grinding noise in the driver's side front wheel area. It only happens when I am in reverse and turning the wheel hard to the right or left. Quiet as a mouse otherwise. CV Joint, wheel bearing????

[floridasl22002]

You can physically check the outer appearance of the drive shaft by getting underneath and looking for split gaiters and also grabbing the shaft to check for play. However, you can also check wear in the drive shaft CV joints by reversing in a semi circle, one way, then the other way. If you hear a clicking sound as you reverse, that's the CV joint telling you it's worn.

CV joints if left till they fail can fail catastrophically. You do NOT want to happen as that side of the vehicle will collapse as the drive shaft gives way.

A failing wheel bearing can be checked by jacking up that wheel. Grab the tire at 12 and 6 and try and rock the wheel vertically. If there is movement, that's a worn wheel bearing. If you grab it at 9 and 3 and rock side to side that's a check for worn tie rod ends. A worn wheel bearing will also 'growl' as the wheel rotates. You could try and rotate the wheel by hand when jacked up and the car in neutral or you could drive the car, drop the car into neutral and coast. If the sound is still there, that's bearings as the drive shafts won't be turning.

One other thing to remember is that drive shafts and wheel bearings are ultimately going round in pairs with the opposite side of the car, so both sides are theoretically wearing at the same rate. There is a school of thought which recommends changing both sides (whether the culprit is the drive shaft or the wheel bearing) if one side is worn as the other side can't be far behind. But in saying that I am mindful of people's budgets.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

[todd8]

I thank you for the response and will check both the bearing and the shaft as you suggested.

Have a great day!

[DawnR]

Thanks for the post.
Bookmarked for me to check soon.

[TvSteve]

"CV joints if left till they fail can fail catastrophically. You do NOT want to happen as that side of the vehicle will collapse as the drive shaft gives way." ???

[floridasl22002]

Originally Posted by TvSteve

"CV joints if left till they fail can fail catastrophically. You do NOT want to happen as that side of the vehicle will collapse as the drive shaft gives way." ???

Steve,
Only last week I saw a Honda Accord leaning drunkenly to the right having just turned right out of a local strip mall. His drive coupling had failed. The wheel/tire was stuck out an odd angle like folk who break their leg badly.
3 weeks earlier same thing, but a FWD Caddy this time on the side of the main road. His had given up while driving.
That's what happens when drive joints fail catastrophically. The driver was just making a slow right turn. imagine that happening on the Interstate?