Noticed a strange noise today...

[Edmond]

coming from the passenger rear. It's somewhere around the wheel well, at least it sounds like it because it's kind of like the sound you get when small pebbles hit the plastic on the wells. It only happens when I turn left with acceleration greater than parking lot speed.

It doesn't happen when I turn right or go straight.

Any ideas on what's causing this?

I should've known, Friday was payday and something has to act up...:cry

 

[Ken]

Take a look at your wheel housing liner (it's plastic or something like plastic). If it's scraping the tire you should see where it's hitting, and possibly determine why.

When mine was replaced after my accident, the right rear scraped for a while until it wore enough clearance between tire and wheelhouse liner. :L

_ken

 

[JonM]

Don't kill the messenger...

If the noise only occurs during a turn, and the wheel bearings have checked out okay, the problem is most likely severe: worn-out, chipped, or otherwise damaged differential side or pinion gears.

You need to get that baby in the air and check it out.

 

[vigman]

2 other possibilities

1) The nut on the axel shaft isnt up to torque and the splines are shifting ( moving back & forth.. has a low thud quality)

2) U joints.




However I'm betting wheel bearing!



Vig!

 

[vader86]

Just had similar problems, turned out to be the passenger rear wheel bearing (which usually wears out first) and the U-joints on that halfshaft

 

[Edmond]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the quick responses. I'll be quick to admit that I don't have a clue about suspensions so I have to ask some more questions:

1. I talked to a co-worker who has a Shark and he said it could be the bearings. So much are these bearings?

2. Are the bearings something that could be done by myself or is it something that should be done at a shop?

3. Am I endangering myself or the vehicle in anyway by doing local driving? ie. to and from the train station?

4. It's been freezing here in IL lately (5-15 degree's F), could this have any effect on the suspension?

 

[vettepilot]

I'm betting wheel bearing also... the early C4s had a tendency to go through the fronts in about 30,000 miles and the rears not long before or after. They are retained behind a flange that is secured by three BIG torx head screws. I think they are 20mm torx heads, been so long since I did mine. Mine was a1993, but I think the basic setup was the same throughout the C4 lifetime.
Before you drive it too far, jack the rear up so it takes the weight off both rear tires, now try to shake or wobble the rear tires top and bottom. They should not move much, less than about 1/8 inch in/out at the top or bottom. If one side moves a lot and the other side is tight, you "probably" found your bad wheel bearing.
As far as driving it around town, I wouldn't endorse it, especially if the roads are slippery, the disk brake on the bad side may grab more than the other or not at all because the bearing may allow the rotor to move in/out slightly causing uneven pressure to the rotor from the caliper/pad.

As a side note here, while everything is apart, if it were me, I would have the half shaft u-joints checked, and replaced if there is the slightest question on their service life. Also, the splined adapter that goes into the differential, and the seals. You might be able to get a good deal on the flat-rate time if you have a shop doing the work for you do everything while it is apart the first time around. But that would be me...
vettepilot

 

[Edmond]

I've got the car in the garage now and I'll have to check it out over the next week.

If it is the bearing, should I just go ahead and do both sides or just switch out the bad one?

How much are bearings?