Rubbing/Grinding Noise After Mishap. Help!
#1
Rubbing/Grinding Noise After Mishap. Help!
I knew I should have said no but I made the mistake of letting my brother drive my vette. Long story short he got silly and hopped a curb. The car looks perfectly fine, no exterior damage. He ended up knocking the alignment way off and bent two wheels. As of today all has been repaired, alignment is perfect and wheels are fixed and balanced. Car drives like it did before besides one small thing. Every time I begin turning to my right I feel and hear grinding/rubbing in the front of the car, I can feel it through the steering column. The more I turn to the right the louder/faster it is, at speed it sounds like a whirring. Luckily, my best friend has a shop and I was able to put the car up on the lift and inspect to see if anything is rubbing. I couldn't find anything! I imagined maybe a wheel bearing? I don't here any popping of sorts so not sure if that would be the only symptom to look for. Any thoughts on what this could possible be? I must get this fixed
#2
Team Owner
Turning to the right loads the left side. Could be left wheel bearing. Is the left side the one that was hit? Any more details about what you are feeling/hearing?
#3
Yes, left side is where it was hit. Hmm.. hard to explain but a whirring sound is what i would compare it to but it is not constant. Imagine the sound/feeling only happen as if one point of the tire was rubbing, everytime the wheel turns. The faster im going while turning towards the right the faster this whirring is. Def a vibration a small vibration as well.
#6
Team Owner
When you had the car on the lift, did you try spinning the front wheels to feel for vibrations and / or hear a sound? If you didn't, that would be my suggestion. If the wheel bearing is bad you can "usually" feel/hear it on a lift.
#7
Same tires, yes sir. I had them all checked out to make sure they were still good. Got the green light.
The wheels were sent to a wheel shop as the both were bent at the spoke. You could see them wobble while spinning. After repair I got them inspected at a different shop (just to get a different set of eyes), green light as well.
Last edited by RdzQuikSS; 03-03-2016 at 04:22 PM.
#8
I did, it all seemed/sounded normal. No clucks, pops, vibrations. Yet once off of the lift and driving around... there it is
#9
Team Owner
Well, don't overlook the rear bearing.
Based on what you've said I think you need to decide to just replace the front bearing and hope for the best, or not. Sorry can't offer more right now.
Based on what you've said I think you need to decide to just replace the front bearing and hope for the best, or not. Sorry can't offer more right now.
#10
#11
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St. Jude Donor '13
Sometimes you can hear a bad bearing by driving slowly through a quiet garage or shop.
#12
Melting Slicks
I ask about the tires because it's possible to ruin the sidewall construction of the belts and would cause a slow shifting of the car at slow speeds. Now if the car hopped the curb straight on, then all could be good, something to keep in mind.
If you suspect the tire, you could swap the fronts side to side and see if the problem follows.
GL
If you suspect the tire, you could swap the fronts side to side and see if the problem follows.
GL
#13
Team Owner
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Jack the front end up like your going to remove a tire.
Grab tire at 12 and 6 o'clock positions and try to rock the tire.
If wheel bearing is bad it will move. It should be solid as a rock
with no movement.
Next grab at 3 and 9 oclock and try to rock side to side.
Any movement and your tie rods are bad.
Also check inner and outer thread of tire. Might be some separation or gatoring that only affects ride while turning.
Also check A arms, one might be bent. Still possible to be aligned even if bent.
Grab tire at 12 and 6 o'clock positions and try to rock the tire.
If wheel bearing is bad it will move. It should be solid as a rock
with no movement.
Next grab at 3 and 9 oclock and try to rock side to side.
Any movement and your tie rods are bad.
Also check inner and outer thread of tire. Might be some separation or gatoring that only affects ride while turning.
Also check A arms, one might be bent. Still possible to be aligned even if bent.
Last edited by wayback; 03-04-2016 at 08:56 AM.
#14
Melting Slicks
Check your power steering fluid level if you haven't already. My '00 Camaro used to lose fluid over an extended period and would make grinding sounds when turning to the right when the fluid was too low. Just a thought.