Noise when turning at speed

[ClaytondeG]

Hi all, I have a 1990 Taurus SHO. Recently it was making a noise while turning at speed. The noise is definitely coming from the driver side, increases frequency with speed, and is worse when turning right. The noise started a few weeks ago and then suddenly got MUCH worse. I pulled over to the side of the road and my lug nuts were a bit loose and the axle nut was basically COMPLETELY loose. I added some lock tight to the axle nut and torqued it down again, put the wheel back on, and drove home. Although the noise got slightly better it still isn’t gone. I’m afraid that the lug nuts or axle nut loosen off again. What could this be? Am I just not getting the wheel tight enough? (The studs are kinda chewed up) Is it a bad wheel bearing caused by the axle nut loosening?

Here is a video of it happening. It’s a bit quiet in the parking lot, but at speeds closer to 30+ and a sharp right turn the sound it DRAMATICALLY louder.

 

[luigisho]

It's either the wheel bearing or the axle itself is damaged. All that flopping around could damage both. At this age of the car, you could do worse than replacing both. However, assuming this is still tightly assembled: jack up the front driver side wheel to clear the ground, wheel straight, try to check for movement with your hands at 6 and 12 and again at 3 and 9, push/rock back adn forth at those positions for excessive movement. That's the standard wheel bearing check. If there is noticeable play (and this stuff is still tightly assembled) then bearing. You can get the car higher off the ground and check the rest of the components for looseness. The wheel bearing is press fit in and out of the hub vs the more common just bolt in units in many vehicles today.

 

[BaySHO Performance]

I second the wheel bearing check with hands at 6 and 12, but 3 and 9 is more for checking looseness in the inner and outer tie rod ends. Also push the CV joint up and down to see if there's play. I've had them manifest themselves with a vibration around 55 mph (as opposed to an out of balance tire that occurs more in the 65-80 range.