Noise/vibration when slightly turning left

[luv2rallye]

Have '99 GST (FWD Turbo). Six weeks ago I had my transaxel completely rebuilt. About 3 weeks ago I started noticing a very slight vibration in the steering wheel and very slight rubbing noise only when I turn the steering wheel slightly left at over 50 mph. The noise sounds and feels like a bearing starting to go bad. The weird thing is it appears only when I turn the wheel just barely (like 1/2") to the left (or more) and disappears when I straighten it out. It does this every time at any speed over about 50 (it may be doing it at less speed but I can't notice it then). It never does it turning to the right. I'm wondering if this is something in my newly rebuilt tranny, or a wheel bearing, or cv joint, or what. Anyone every heard of this or have ideas? Since the axel, wheel bearing and tranny are all connected and run together, how can you isolate this?

 

[luv2rallye]

Had a mechanic test drive it today and he said it's a front wheel bearing, probably the left one and to use a stethoscope on it to verify. I think he's right.

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

If it's a rumbling noise and you cut the wheel to the left and it gets quieter it's probably the left side wheel bearing. If it gets quieter when you cut right while traveling it's probably the right side one. This is due to unloading it momentarily. Clicking noises would likely be the outer cv joint which should make noise left or right as the load doesn't change on it when shifting from side to side. Thumpy vibration is usually associated with the inner cv joint. Most noticeable during accelleration.

Hope this helps

 

[luv2rallye]

Old Mitsu Tech hit it right on the money - it was the RF wheel bearing which I replaced. The cotter pin was terrible to get out and the axel nut was easy. Getting the driveshaft out of the hub however, was the biggest nightmare I've ever seen. PB Blast, wait, hammer, hub puller, more PBBlast, wait over night, hammer, broke hub puller in two, bigger hammer, torch, liquid wrench, biggest hammer, acetelene torch and liquid wrench and hammer 3 more times. Finally got it out by renting a truck hub puller. The end of the axel got mushroomed a bit by the pullers and the cotter pin holes partially blocked due to the end crushing in. Learned the hard way: keep axel nut on when using puller so this doesn't happen. If someone needs to know, I've got a picture of this heavy duty puller and make/number.

 

[Maverick3169]

How much did the whell bearing cost? I think mine might be going bad. It makes noise while barely turning left, like yours... but no vibrations while doing so. It does vibrate when I'm driving between 62-75mph. I was thinking it was related.

 

[luv2rallye]

You have to get the whole hub assembly which has the bearings in it. $155 from satan (that's with discount - normally $182). Also check post #13 last paragragh for a shortcut on axel removal.

 

[95talon_in_ma]

Just checking, but you had the axle pulled out of the tranny before you were beating it right???

 

[luv2rallye]

Yes, unbolting the lower arms from the chassis and removing damper fork bolt (4 bolts total and all very easy) allowed everything to be pulled out far enough to pull the driveshaft out of the tranny.