Still resonating and now clunking

[Debo250]

Some of you may remember my earlier thread about resonating/vibrating in my front end (97 SHO). I've ruled out motor mounts, subframe bushings, & tires. On cold mornings I hear "clunk, clunk, clunk" coming from the front end (sounds like pass side) which speeds up on pace with vehicle speed up to 30 mph or so. As things start to warm up in the drivetrain the clunking goes away but between 65 - 70 (whether cold or hot) I continue to get a resonating or high frequency vibration I can both hear & feel in the gas pedal, steering wheel, & floorboard. Left to right weight transfer (swerving back & forth) has no effect on this. I don't hear any outer cv joint clicking while turning at low speeds. Drive at speeds below 65 or above 75 & this situation all but disappears. I'm almost positive this is not a suspension issue because it relates to vehicle speed not how bumpy the road is. There is some modulation of this noise/resonating at highway speeds as the suspension absorbs slight dips in the road. The drivetrain has approx 80K miles on it but was taken out of a car that took a side hit hard enough for the car to go up on two wheels. Could I have inner cv joint issues or bearings? Any ideas?

 

[naval-avi8or]

Could I have inner cv joint issues or bearings? Any ideas?

I've had a simular noise/vibration on my car. I've posted recently regrarding troubleshooting steps that I have taken. The conclusion was a bad wheel bearing that I will be replacing tomarrow. I'll post my results.

 

[Debo250]

Hey how's it going? Did you have your wheel bearing replaced? If so, how did it go?

Duane.

 

[naval-avi8or]

Hey how's it going? Did you have your wheel bearing replaced? If so, how did it go?

Duane.

Yes and no. I got the hub out and in the process of using a cheap ball joint seperator I tore the boot and had to replace it. I also decided to replace the cv shaft while I had it all tore apart (50 bucks and hoplefully never have to take it apart again). I get the cv shaft today.

After removing the knuckle we rotated the hub by hand and you could fill that the bearing had some flattened balls. It would hang/drag ever so slitghtly.

 

[SeanMc]

Have the cams been welded?

 

[naval-avi8or]

Hey how's it going? Did you have your wheel bearing replaced? If so, how did it go?

Duane.

Wheel bearing replaced and NO MORE NOISE!

As stated earlier the bearing was rough when rotated by hand, so I'm 100% sure that was my problem. I did however replace the cv shaft while I was at it. I just don't want to tear into it any time in the near future to replace a $70 dollar part.

 

[Debo250]

Have the cams been welded?

Yes cams welded probably 25K miles ago. Just curious - why do you ask?

 

[Debo250]

Wheel bearing replaced and NO MORE NOISE!

As stated earlier the bearing was rough when rotated by hand, so I'm 100% sure that was my problem. I did however replace the cv shaft while I was at it. I just don't want to tear into it any time in the near future to replace a $70 dollar part.

That's great news, thanks. As soon as some anticipated funds arrive I'm going to have both axles completely checked including bearings. It's worth it to me to just go ahead and replace both sides not including inner cv's (unless necessary) not to have to fool with it again anytime soon. I'll post my results.

Oh, and if I have enough $$$ left I'm going for flowmasters (maybe 3rd catless).

Duane.

 

[Debo250]

The saga continues

Now my axle and cv joint specialist can't find anything wrong with either front axle or hub bearings. Both he and a 2nd shop suspect the trans or differential. They're ruling bearings out because the humming noise and resonating pitch does not change with left to right weight transfer, only with up and down suspension travel as you go down the road. Just to be sure I'm having the hub disassembled to check the bearing on the pass side since it beats rebuilding the tranny first. Has anyone ever seen a hub bearing noise be unaffected by left to right weight transfer?

 

[naval-avi8or]

That should rule out the tranny, and make a bearing or wheel well rub be more lickley. If your bearing is bad enough the weight shift may not be enough to releive the bearing load. The only way I ever felt that something was deffinatly wrong with the bearing was after it was completly diss assymbled. Rotating it with the tire or even with only the CV shaft conncted it felt perfectly fine.

 

[Debo250]

Believe me I'm with you on this one for obvious reasons. I'm hoping by insisting the knuckle be removed and the hub rotated by hand and bearing visually inspected the problem will reveal itself. My trans works great in every way imaginable and the drivetrain only has approx 85K on it. I'll be sure to keep you posted. Thanks for all your feedback.

BTW, I've been talking to Don with DCCar Care about Bullet mufflers and if I can just get past this front end noise thing I'm gonna make a move.

Duane
210.317.7373

 

[Debo250]

I think I'm done!

Had both front hubs/bearings replaced although pass side was the suspect one. Now I haven't been able to fully test it because we're having freezing rain here in San Antonio and the highways are closed but .......... I swear that noise is gone! The old hubs really didn't feel that bad when turned by hand but apparently it's a different story when under a load in real driving situations. I'll know for sure if this solved the problem when the weather improves enough for me to drive a sustained 60 to 70 mph. Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

Duane.