Need help with rear axle noise

[Cheeseless]

Hello all, I need help diagnosing a noise in the rear of my 2011 LX. In the last snow storm here in Texas I over estimated traction control and my tires... I spun out and struck the curb with the passenger rear, bending the wheel at about 7 o'clock. I immediately noticed an intermittent rubbing noise I attributed to the wheel meeting the caliper.
I have since changed the wheels, brake rotors, pads but am still having the noise. The car has chewed through an outer rear brake pad in record time, and I can no longer just turn the radio up and keep driving.
Am I assuming correctly that I have bent the axle/mating surface for the wheel, causing a noise only present with rotation, and is speed dependent? Its not a constant noise like if something was rubbing constantly. It is more like one certain point is bent and it rubs only when that point makes a round trip.
Getting ready to replace the axle shaft and wheel bearing, just seeing if there are any other suggestions out there before spending the money on parts.
Thanks

 

[bloc]

Hello all, I need help diagnosing a noise in the rear of my 2011 LX. In the last snow storm here in Texas I over estimated traction control and my tires... I spun out and struck the curb with the passenger rear, bending the wheel at about 7 o'clock. I immediately noticed an intermittent rubbing noise I attributed to the wheel meeting the caliper.
I have since changed the wheels, brake rotors, pads but am still having the noise. The car has chewed through an outer rear brake pad in record time, and I can no longer just turn the radio up and keep driving.
Am I assuming correctly that I have bent the axle/mating surface for the wheel, causing a noise only present with rotation, and is speed dependent? Its not a constant noise like if something was rubbing constantly. It is more like one certain point is bent and it rubs only when that point makes a round trip.
Getting ready to replace the axle shaft and wheel bearing, just seeing if there are any other suggestions out there before spending the money on parts.
Thanks

Your diagnosis and parts list seems appropriate.. plus a brake rotor probably. note that a bunch of other parts have to get installed on the axle with the bearing. Details for bearing R&R here:

Rear axle bearing change

Back again with something I hope will help some people eventually. I'll try not to make this too wordy, but there is a little background. I spent months tracking down a driveline noise and with the help of some board members and especially @CharlieS narrowed it down to a passenger side rear...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[CharlieS]

It sounds rotational.

Is it possible that you bent the end of axle at the wheel hub end?

That could make sense since it only rubs in one part of the rotation and you've already installed a known good wheel/rotor.

Can you get your hands on a dial caliper and measure the runout on the end of the axle flange? This could help confirm your diagnosis before throwing parts at it.

 

[Cheeseless]

Bloc, I read your rear wheel bearing saga posts and am actually ordering parts based on your post.

CharlieS: My assumption is that I bent the face on the axle, just figured that would be more contact than one little chirp with every rotation. Dad might have a mag base dial caliper and Ill see if I can borrow it. Great suggestion, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

 

[bloc]

The backing plate could have a high spot that is causing the chirp, or I guess it's possible for the axle to have bent further than it is now during the event, possibly bending the backing plate slightly, then the axle return elastically to where it is now.. and the two bends combine into the chirp once per rotation.

I agree measuring runout would be a good next move. Or even put the rig on 4 jack stands and put it in drive with the center diff locked and look closely for runout with the wheel installed. 18" diameter will multiply any runout at the hub face.

For the record with a hit that hard I'd also inspect the panhard rod and brackets, possibly even pulling the bolts to see if they dug into their respective holes. Or maybe look for witness marks as evidence that the bolt face slid on the bracket. Then again if it was a year ago a witness mark could be obscured by now.

 

[Cheeseless]

Bloc, thanks for the suggestions. I did bend the panhard bar back into service and after replacement arrived replaced it with OEM. I wish it was as simple as the backing plate but I get brake pedal pulses, leading me to believe there’s runout in the rotating assembly. I’m at this point hoping it’s only the axle shaft, but will replace the bearing while there. I imagine it was not designed for that kind of lateral wiggle for so long.
I just needed to hear it from outside my brain, thanks again guys.

 

[bloc]

Bloc, thanks for the suggestions. I did bend the panhard bar back into service and after replacement arrived replaced it with OEM. I wish it was as simple as the backing plate but I get brake pedal pulses, leading me to believe there’s runout in the rotating assembly. I’m at this point hoping it’s only the axle shaft, but will replace the bearing while there. I imagine it was not designed for that kind of lateral wiggle for so long.
I just needed to hear it from outside my brain, thanks again guys.

You can't move the bearing to a new axle anyway.. no way to get it apart without destroying it. If it won't slow you down too much I'd still verify runout but yeah between the symptoms you describe and the event itself I'd be surprised if the axle isn't bent.