when i spin up my front wheels by hand, they have a drag on certain points during it's rotation.

freeeeee...drag...freeee...drag...freeee and so on. it appears to be coming from the brakes and the rotor and pads are new. i also cleaned up any crap that was on the mating surfaces.

this can't be normal can it.

 

take the pads off and repeat to be sure, but your wheel bearing probably needs replacing.

 

that's kinda what i was suspecting. one was replaced about 6 months ago and neither of them are making any noise. but your point does prove other problems to be a result as well...

my car is butter smooth until 60mph, and if i start in a straight line and don't hit any big bumps, i can get to about 90mph without vibration.

if i try the same test with any turning involved ( i live in the mountains, so that's all the time highway sweeping turns) then i start getting vibration at 60mph, and the vibration will remain for the rest of my journey at anything over that speed.

if i throw the car in the air and let the car spin in 1st, i can see the wheels wobbling around slightly and both axle shafts not spinning in a perfect balanced circle.

parts with less than 3000miles
- inner/outter rods, all mount bushings on rack, as well as the end bushing
- lower ball joints
- upper control arms
- shocks & springs (koni's w/ ITR springs)
- pads & rotors

could this be a bad output shaft bearing on the trans causing nothing to spin right? i'm kind of at my wits end with this thing and i think if i solve the wheel not dragging randomly, then it will solve my problems.

 

i should mention that a mechanic inspected the front end and commented 'the front end feels as tight as it could possibly be'.

 

just did re-assessment. it's only the passenger side that is doing it (the brake drag thing). my bad.

 

just isolate the wheel bearing. the spin test is the proper test. if it does just like you say, thats a bad wheel bearing.

where did you get all those replacement parts? im assuming not OEM?

if they are some ebay group set, those are ****. 3000 miles is about the useful life of them.

 

none of it is ebay crap. mostly Moog service grade stuff and some OEM. Looks like i'll be into a new bearing then. thanks.

 

so if i take the pads off, then spin the wheel, if it spins freely then it's NOT the bearing?

then it's a bent axle/hub or rotor not sitting correctly?

 

took the pads out and there is no noise, the pads are definitely dragging on the rotor at a certain point.

 

warped rotor? you need a dial indicator and check for runout

 

i suppose i could try switching the rotors from side to side, that would tell me if it's the rotor.

 

check the axle then.