Odd problem or not? Vibration when turning
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
Odd problem or not? Vibration when turning
Hey everyone, now I just want some people's opinions on this since I am new to the Corvette scene and my knowledge of them is very limited. I have a 2002 Z06 and wanted to confirm with some people what this problem may be.
Whenever I turn the steering wheel right (ONLY RIGHT and just the slightest bit), I get a hum noise and vibration in the steering wheel and sort of throughout the car. I hear some noise outside the car too but really cannot make out where it is coming from. When I go left, there is no noise, no vibration what so ever. My diagnosis is a left side wheel bearing/hub. Does this sound right or could this be a bigger problem. The car was never in an accident and drives straight perfectly. It has new tires which have been balanced within the last 1000 miles. Thanks for any input!
Tom
Whenever I turn the steering wheel right (ONLY RIGHT and just the slightest bit), I get a hum noise and vibration in the steering wheel and sort of throughout the car. I hear some noise outside the car too but really cannot make out where it is coming from. When I go left, there is no noise, no vibration what so ever. My diagnosis is a left side wheel bearing/hub. Does this sound right or could this be a bigger problem. The car was never in an accident and drives straight perfectly. It has new tires which have been balanced within the last 1000 miles. Thanks for any input!
Tom
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 11
From: Newport, RI
First thing I would do is look at the wheelwell areas under the front wheels. Perhaps a piece of trim has come loose and contacts a tire when you turn the wheel.
Or you can do this by feel - turn the wheel to the right, then shut off car. Now get out and run your hands all along the circumference of the tires to see if you feel anything touching.......
You can usually diagnose a bad wheel bearing by jacking up the front end (under the appropriate spots). Safety note: support car with jack stands as well as jack, or be careful not to get under it in any way. With no weight on the wheel, try wiggling the wheel by hand, and rotating it. If there's play, or noise, then that usually indicates bad bearing.
Also look to see if something is embedded in a tire, like rock or other object. And check air pressure too.
-
Or you can do this by feel - turn the wheel to the right, then shut off car. Now get out and run your hands all along the circumference of the tires to see if you feel anything touching.......
You can usually diagnose a bad wheel bearing by jacking up the front end (under the appropriate spots). Safety note: support car with jack stands as well as jack, or be careful not to get under it in any way. With no weight on the wheel, try wiggling the wheel by hand, and rotating it. If there's play, or noise, then that usually indicates bad bearing.
Also look to see if something is embedded in a tire, like rock or other object. And check air pressure too.
-
Last edited by Chevy-SS; Apr 20, 2009 at 11:00 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
The tires are not contacting anything that was the first thing I checked. The tires are actually fine, I looked them over thoroughly. They are Vredestein Ultra Sessantas. I just didn't know if anyone else ever had a similar issue. I know wheel bearings can have some differentiation in symptoms but I feel like the noise and loading of the left side causing the vibration would point to that, especially since they seem to be a problem area among Corvette C5s (by doing a search and coming up with 100s of threads about bearings!)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
Yes, and there is definitely noise coming from the rear of the car, however, grabbing the wheel at 12 and 6 or 9 and 3 really doesnt have that much play. I bought a new hub/wheel bearing for the left rear. I am going to replace that and go from there.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
I bought the hub bearing at Autozone for around $180. If you are feeling the vibration when turning RIGHT, its the left (driver) side bearings that are bad. If you turn LEFT, it is the passenger side that needs replacing. This is because when you turn right lets say, it puts all load on the left side the car. Hope this helps!
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Left front vibration
I have a 98 coupe. Same problem same noise just from the left. So I replaced the front right bearing. Dang no joy still have the noise/vibration. Ok so I checked right rear feels great. Now I am screwed? Took the vette to the chevy dealer, they say you have a left front hub but its not the bearing its the ABS in the bearing???? I brought it home.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
I have a 98 coupe. Same problem same noise just from the left. So I replaced the front right bearing. Dang no joy still have the noise/vibration. Ok so I checked right rear feels great. Now I am screwed? Took the vette to the chevy dealer, they say you have a left front hub but its not the bearing its the ABS in the bearing???? I brought it home.
Be aware, dont go by FEEL. My front left wheel bearing which was the bad one had NO PLAY it in at all and I didnt even hear much coming from it at all. In fact, the noise I had sounded like it was coming from the rear, so I replaced the rear first, then it didnt fix the problem, then I did the front, and it was fixed. All in all I spent $190 for the rear and $170 for the front, but its some preventative maintenance!
