clanking noise. Wheel bearing???

[DJ_Obscene]

For the last three days I've had a cklanking noise coming from the front drivers side. It just started over night. I jacked up the car and visualy checked to see if anything was lose but eveything looked fine. A friend suggested it might be a wheel bearing. But i never heard any squeaking or whining nose from that side. Any ideas on what it could be? Thanks

 

[1gcrazy]

Is it clicking when you turn corners more than driving straight?

 

[DJ_Obscene]

No i can only hear it when im driving straight and it sounds like two pieces of metal hiting together

 

[1gcrazy]

is it constant with speed or every once and a while?

 

[DJ_Obscene]

I can only hear it when i go over a pot hole or when the street i am driving on is sort of bumpy. Other than that i wont hear it at all

 

[Cs4g63]

That sounds like you need to check out your suspension.

 

[1gcrazy]

I can only hear it when i go over a pot hole or when the street i am driving on is sort of bumpy. Other than that i wont hear it at all

K jack up your front end. With the wheel on put your hands on the top and bottom of the wheel and pull in and out. Check for play. It shouldn't hardly move at all. I'm assuming your ball joints are going out. It wouldn't hurt to install some poly mounts on the lower arm where it attaches to the frame. I'm sure the bushings are pretty deteriorated depending on where you live...

While the cars up in the air put your hands at 3 and 9 o clock on the wheel and check the tie rod ends using the same method. I'd have the keys OUT of the car for that one. Make sure your steering wheel locks to make sure you can feel for any play.

Wheel bearings usually grind when they're going out or when they're bad...

 

[DJ_Obscene]

With the wheel on put your hands on the top and bottom of the wheel and pull in and out. Check for play. It shouldn't hardly move at all

There was no play when i tried this

 

[DJ_Obscene]

While the cars up in the air put your hands at 3 and 9 o clock on the wheel and check the tie rod ends using the same method.

There was some play when i tried this.....actually if i moved it fast enough it kind of sounds like what I hear when I am driving. Thanks. I guess ill be replacing some tie rods.

 

[1gcrazy]

There was some play when i tried this.....actually if i moved it fast enough it kind of sounds like what I hear when I am driving. Thanks. I guess ill be replacing some tie rods.

Tie rods are most likely not the problem you're describing so that leads me to believe that something's still not right. Did you pull hard both directions?

 

[Rex2342]

Most of the time you will notice handling issues with bad ball joints or tie rod ends. Is your car pulling or driving any different?Have you noticed any excessive tire wear up front? 1gcrazy is right. If your not noticing any play or very little it's most likely something else. What about maybe the heat shields for brakes rattling?

 

[1gcrazy]

yeah I didn't even think about brakes...
The dust shield could be hittin the rotor. but thats more of a tinny noise not a clank...

 

[DJ_Obscene]

I did notice the car pulls a little to the right when i am driving. At first i thought it was low tire pressure.Then like two days after that is when i started hearing the noise.

 

[DJ_Obscene]

As for the tire wear......well lets just say I should have got new front tires like a month ago

 

[1gcrazy]

As for the tire wear......well lets just say I should have got new front tires like a month ago

Hmm...i'd hafta be there. I'm not quite sure anymore...