Hey,

First off, let me explain what's at stake here. Next weekend I'm going up to Ontario (500miles away) to see my high school crush at her college. And I'm staying with her at her place!!! I must have my car driveable by Friday.

History
It all started last Thursday. I started hearing a sloshing/grinding noise coming from my front drivers side area at low speeds. It was pretty faint. I thought it was the brake pad, so I changed them today. That didn't fix the problem. Tonight when I was driving to the gym, I started hearing a loud tapping noise from the drivers side. This is what I need to fix.

Observations
Loud tapping noise when driving straight.
When turning LEFT, sloshing/grinding noise appears
When turning RIGHT, all the sounds dissappear and everything's fine.
Tapping noise does not sound like a bad axle that clicks
As I speed up, tapping noise increases in frequency

What to Rule Out
The car is a 92 hatch. Front brakes are off a 00' Integra (30,000miles on them). Alignment is in spec, wheels are balanced, and tires are brand new. Although the tapping noise doesn't sound like a bad axle, I checked the outer boot and it was fine, I didn't check the inner one because it was dark.

You guys have to give me some ideas as to what this noise is. Could it be a bad wheel bearing? I hope it's just something loose.

Thanks,

George

 

Quit cockblocking, help me out.

 

the plastic mud flap thing on the inside of the fender might be a little lose. personally i'd say you'll be fine for your road trip. (just to be safe bring a little money for a greyhound ticket though heh) GL W/ the huney =P

 

I really doubt it's the fender liner.

 

Bump for more ideas.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by litterbox &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> And I'm staying with her at her place!!! </TD></TR></TABLE>
and you know she would be turned off by a noisy clicking car jk sounds like the axle that is if nothing is rubbing wich it could be because you said it goes away when you turn one way.

 

Its either your axle or your hub bearing. The axle makes a clicking noise when you turn ans its broken and the bearing grind and make the sid kinda sluggish when they go. Hope this helps. Goodluck

edit: The axle noise will go away when you turn the opposite direction if you do not have a LSD because the axle will rotate much slower if at all.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tabrisakakaoru &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its either your axle or your hub bearing. The axle makes a clicking noise when you turn ans its broken and the bearing grind and make the sid kinda sluggish when they go. Hope this helps. Goodluck

edit: The axle noise will go away when you turn the opposite direction if you do not have a LSD because the axle will rotate much slower if at all.</TD></TR></TABLE>

x2.

 

wheel bearing gets my vote

 

Wheel bearing. Jack the car up so the front driver's side wheel is off the ground and spin it. If is makes noise and has trouble spinning, then listen a little closer to where the noise is coming from. If is sounds like it's in the center of the wheel, then it's prob the wheel bearing. Just keep driving until it gets really bad

 

Well I had to replace a bad axle on the other side of the car and this does not sound like a bad axle. Bad axles click, this is a tapping noise.

I was told that bad wheel bearings hum?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by litterbox &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I had to replace a bad axle on the other side of the car and this does not sound like a bad axle. Bad axles click, this is a tapping noise.

I was told that bad wheel bearings hum?</TD></TR></TABLE>

If this is the case then yes, bad wheel bearings.

 

Also when you replace axles you should always replace both together. If it is the bearing when you jack the car up the wheel can be shaken back and forth and will not rotate correctly. Hope you get it fixed.

 

I'm pretty sure it's a wheel bearing too...... I had one go out in my VW a while ago during an autocross trip and thats exactly what it sounded like.

I don't think different car makers' wheel bearings make different noises when they go bad.

 

a little off topic..... but where in ontario are you going??? you'll probably drive right threw my city.. on your way up

 

sounds like hub bearing man, mine made a noise like that, jack up the saide of the car that its making the noise and see if your wheel whobbles if so, then yea its a hub bearing.

note: 46 dollars at auto zone

 

Wheel bearing and a hub bearing is the same thing right? That needs to be pressed out and pressed in? It's not something I can do by myself? Crap. Well,

Do you guys think its safe to drive the car up there and back with the bad wheel bearing? I can always go back to the stock civic brakes on that side, which is something I'll have to do anyway to replace the wheel bearing on the integra brakes.

Can wheel bearings go bad this fast? I mean it started just last Thursday.

EDIT: I'm going to Queens (Kingston) She's soo hot, it's worth the drive, even on a bad wheel bearing

 

If you dont do it yourself the shops will charge you insanely large amounts to do it. Just a tip its cheaper to get the tool than to pay the shop to fix it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tabrisakakaoru &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you dont do it yourself the shops will charge you insanely large amounts to do it. Just a tip its cheaper to get the tool than to pay the shop to fix it.</TD></TR></TABLE>Well if I can, I'd DIY. I haven't taken my car to a shop since I've owned it and I've done a **** load to it. I'm all about DIY.
For the tool, are you talking about a bearing press?

 

Wait! I've got it! There's a big rock wedged in your tire tread! Woohoo, I'm the winner....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gizzo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wait! I've got it! There's a big rock wedged in your tire tread! Woohoo, I'm the winner....</TD></TR></TABLE>You sir, are a douche bag.
EDIT: Forgot the since you posted above.

 

"When did Cavaliers and Neons become Japanese racing machines?
Duluth, MN - Where the import section of a car show contains: A Mercury Cougar, two Dodge Neons, one Ford Focus, one Chevy Cavalier, and a Ford Mustang"


I am to a Duluth native and have noticed the recent onslot of american muscle in northern Minnesota.

Most cars that rev at you up here consist of an ebay muffler, a window banner and a steering wheel cover from Wal-mart...FAST.

Oh yes, I know most of the guys that own those cars. Robs speed shop guys, real cool.

 

yeah i think its the wheel hub bearing same thing happened to my car awhile back pain to change it though everything has to be pressed out

 

Cool. Yeah, I was down at Rob's on Friday putting a full set of Tein coilovers in my friends WRX. What exactly do you drive? I'm sure I've seen you around