front wheel sound guessing challenge

[jcrandall]

I would love a push in the right direction here.

There is a slight "loose" feeling in my left front wheel, started just today. It almost feels like a bolt connecting suspension components has worked its way almost out, or that my bearings are toast.

After a visual inspection, and the "jack the corner up and shake the wheel test" there doesn't seem to be anything out of whack with bearings or suspension components. Nothing looks loose, and there is no play in the wheel when I shake it.

I'm not real experienced though, so any links to other threads or recommendations on specific items to check would be appreciated. I did search, but "front wheel sound" isn't the most effective entry to search.

Appreciate the push in the right direction, I'll update with progress.

 

[petrotk40]

Sway bar bushings? Worn tie rods?

 

[AimCOtaco]

I say ball joints, they are harder to pinpoint because they remain loaded when you lift up the vehicle.

 

[jcrandall]

Good ideas, my sway bar bushings I'm sure are brittle after 245K. The tie rods are possible too. I'll check tonight. I broke a tie rod in a Tahoe on 35s I had when I was 16 - slid into a pillar. Learned to respect the tie rod.
Zero experience with ball joints - sounds like I need to get some.
Thanks

 

[Trunk Monkey]

At 245k you need to just start slowly replacing everything - tie rod ends, ball joints, sway bar and steering rack bushings, maybe steering rack, etc.

 

[ckkone]

Try taking off the wheel center cap and see if the noise goes away..

 

[jcrandall]

Try taking off the wheel center cap and see if the noise goes away..

Good lord - I will try that but I hope for the sake of my ego that this is not the issue.

 

[paflytyer]

When you said you jacked the front up and shook the wheel, did you try shaking with your hands at the 3 and 9 o'clock and 12 and 6 o'clock positions? One is different than the other.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

What's the sound? I can't guess yet.

If there is a sound, does it change with speed or around turns?

 

[petrotk40]

how much play when shaking at 3 and 9 is ok?

 

[Mxndrnks]

IMHO... there should be no play.

 

[petrotk40]

well shoot... I think I probably need to replace my rack bushings

 

[jcrandall]

Don't think I had any play when shaking from all sides - this morning had no weird sounds or loose feeling on the drive to work. No way that was my imagination but sure looks like it.

I'm sure Truck Monkey is right though - I'm overdue to refresh a long list of things.

 

[Mxndrnks]

well shoot... I think I probably need to replace my rack bushings

Could be rack bushings or rod ends (inner or outer). To determine which... Have some one else do it while you watch. If it is the rack and or bushings, you will see it move. If it is the rod ends, the rack will be still and the wheel will move.

Edit,

Since you have a YM 2000. If the rack bushings need replacing, there are a couple options:

1. Try replacing the Big D bushing on the PS First. It is easy and you can do it in an hour or so taking your time... Maybe longer if you really take your time.
2. In order to change the DS bushings, the entire rack needs to be pulled. This is a PITA job. I would seriously think about just putting a NEW OEM rack in at the same time. The labor will be the same. Bluecruiser went with a reman rack a couple years ago and has had to replace that...

 

[paflytyer]

how much play when shaking at 3 and 9 is ok?

IMHO... there should be no play.

I agree, there should be no play at all.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Well, to be fair, you should be able to jiggle the tire, but it shouldn't rock back and forth.

 

[petrotk40]

let me set the scene... front passenger tire, when I push at 3 it moved maybe 1/4". Although I'm not sure if the whole rack was moving or just the linkage. When I push at 9, no movement. Definitely not the tie rods.

 

[paflytyer]

It's near impossible to decide what is an acceptable amount of jiggle, shake or shimmy without seeing/feeling it. If you can grab at 3 and 9 oclock and push/pull back and forth and there is movement or something sounds/feels loose then you should start there, because IMO there shouldnt be 1/4" of play. Can you reproduce the sound/feeling by shaking the wheel at any position? There will most likely be a noise associated with it being loose, (a clank or clunk) but not always.

It will be much easier to jiggle, shake or shimmy with the wheel/tire still on because you're able to use more force in your push/pull then by just grabing the rotor with the wheel off.

 

[jcrandall]

Alright - took a look under there and as predicted basically all bushings seem to be worn out and brittle.
I do have a cv boot leaking, and will be rebooting anyway. From my second round of research, it seems that the sound of a bad cv would be more like a clicking when turning - so I feel good that the sound is not coming from a cv joint. The leaky joint is on right side anyway.
The mystery sound seems kind of caused by bumps in the road but not always. I am 99% convinced one of my bushings from 1998 is worn out and causing a clunk (about same volume and similar to driving over a small crack in a parking lot).

Alright - took a look under there and as predicted basically all bushings seem to be worn out and brittle.
I do have a cv boot leaking, and will be rebooting anyway. From my second round of research, it seems that the sound of a bad cv would be more like a clicking when turning - so I feel good that the sound is not coming from a cv joint. The leaky joint is on right side anyway.
The mystery sound seems kind of caused by bumps in the road but not always. I am 99% convinced one of my bushings from 1998 is worn out and causing a clunk (about same volume and similar to driving over a small crack in a parking lot).

Thoughts on replacement order? I'll be learning as I go, and since its my dd it would be good not to be down for more than a weekend at a time.