Sounds like i might lose a wheel!

[DeLo360]

My front suspension is getting pretty bad. Before i take the car to a shop, or even try and handle this problem myself, i would like to get a little more informed.

The problem is that when i start driving there is this humm that gets worse as speed increases. I'm thinking that its a hub bearing issue. I havent changed any suspension components as of yet, and i have 90K on the clock, so it may just be time for the bearings to get replaced. However, there is more. Now along with the humm a vibration has started from the front but i cant pin point whether its right or the left. The vibrating gets worse at higher speed but its appearent at 5mph. At about 42mph with the windows down i hear sporatic clanging coming from the front of the car. And by clanging i mean load metal on metal. The wierd thing about all of this is that when i turn the wheels to the left the clanging and vibrating almost all goes away. When i am strait or turning to the left it feels like something might fall off. The car doesnt pull to any side, and the rims arent bent.

Any ideas? I really dont want to go to a shop and spend more money then i need to. I really want to know whats goin on with this thing.

Thanks, Dave

 

[DeLo360]

no ideas?

 

[94awdcoupe]

Read the rules! Do not bump your thread. That will get it closed.

 

[wret]

Have you jacked up the car and tugged on things to find what's loose?

 

[93ESTalon]

Jack the front of the car up and spin the front wheels by hand. If it's a wheel bearing then you can feel it when it spins. It'll feel really rough. Hope that helps.

Tyler

 

[99redgst]

From your description I can pretty much guarantee you its a wheel bearing. Jack up the car and grab the front wheels at the 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position, try to rock the wheel back and forth. If there is play in it the wheel bearing is loose, and from your description I'm pretty sure there will be play in it. However, just because there isn't any play in it doesn't mean the wheel bearing is good either. Considering the vibration and metal on metal sound I'm sure there is something loose.

 

[napkinthief]

i just changed my lower control arm/ball joint and there was metal on metal, it ended up to be the plate behind the rotor scraping the rim, try pushing it back a little with a screw driver, saved my prob, seems it got pushed forward during the struggle to get the 10 years of rust off

 

[project_tsi]

Sounds like your Wheel Bearing is taking a shit. Does it ever squeak? Jack up the car, and wobble the tire w/ force. If the tire feels shaky inside the bearing, then its bad, or if it has excessive play.

 

[RamenPride]

sounds like a wheel bearing, but has the ball joint recall been done?