Ok here it goes..i havent had time to get under my g/f sunfire but here is the issue....when you turn the wheels hard to the left you get a clunking sound..usually when your backing out or turning into a parking stall. Sometimes on a hill when you accelerate hard..now my guess is it is the drivers side cv is worn out..tis rods ad ball joints feel decent ...sound about ight?
Could be or the wheel cube (wheel bearing) be my second guess...
yah..i dunno about the wheel bearing tho..you wouldnt feel it and hear it.....not at low speeds when my old one was gone
Axel shaft....what exactly is that and where is it located? i have the same problem....is it very expensive to get fixed?
2000 z24 Cavalier
i had my cv axles replaced and mine is still there..
strut housing pops like crazy on cavaliers...... you should check it.. its a pain if you dont have the right tools tho...
intermediate shaft (steering column) pops a lot too.. (low speed turning)
there is a simple grease fitting you can install to fix that... its right under the brake booster if you cant find it....
also if its your hub assy. going.. when you drive.. the faster you go the louder it will get.. a loud lulling noise.. like you put a swamper tire on one side of your car.. and when you turn the wheel one direction the noise goes away(when that happens that will tell you which hub is gone.)
hope this helps.. it drives me crazy too.. hope you figure it out!
"Z24 Dustbunny"
The driveline on my car is quiet as hell, and always has been, and the steering is smooth... if everything is normal you shouldn't be hearing any noises at all.
The axle shafts are the FWD version of a driveshaft (I'm actually in disbelief that you don't know what they are). The cv joints are in the axle shafts. There the metal rods that connect your wheels to the tranny. You usually cant just get a new cv joint and it easier just to replace to whole shaft.
You have to press one end out of the hub once the center nut is removed (special tool is needed), and the other side just pops out of the tranny. You can buy them as one whole peice at pretty much any parts store. There pretty easy to check, and if the cv joint is bad enough to be clunking.. the boot is probably ripped too.
That almost HAS to be what is wrong with your car.. but check it before replacing anything.
i would still check your strut housing.. when they wear out they make a Ton of noise
"Z24 Dustbunny"
i had the passanger side cv joint replaced like 2 weeks ago....it went away and then came back again.... this time it feels like it's more on the drivers side like when i turn the wheel when coming out of my driveway it makes popping noises...at higher speeds there is no noise....but a really bad wabble........you think this would be the strut housing or do i need a new cv shaft for the drivers side?......any other suggestios on what it could be???
thannks, chris
2000 z24 Cavalier
Cavaliers have horrible front suspension. the strut housing (that mates with your coil spring) has HORRIBLE fitment issues. The Design could really not be any worse.
before you go buying new cv axles. i would jack the car, and pull your struts..
Check the condition of your housing (spin it, check for play, Inspect the bearings.. if warn, replace)
Check the condition of your spring to housing mating surface(if the little rubber spacer is out of line, or warn... reallign/replace it)
Check the condition of your spring while you have it apart.. if cracked or heavily rusted, replace.
Like i said before, check your intermediate shaft. GM posted that it is a COMMON problem with cavaliers. and their description for the problem sound almost exactly what you are saying..
gl
"Z24 Dustbunny"
Ya, we can guess what is causing it all day, but you will still need to check everything first to make sure.
Check your strut housing, then axle shaft, then the bearing.
Sometimes when one axle shaft goes out.. it causes the other one to fail shortly after, but it doesn't happen very often.
To check the weheel bearing.. pull your wheel and see if the hub clicks or has any play in it,, you might have to remove the rotor.
As far as the strut stuff, do what Mr. powers said to check it.
ok thanks alot by's appricate the help will let you know how it turns out...getting it checked out on thursday.
2000 z24 Cavalier
GM's are known for the intermediate steering shafts making a clunk noise when turning the wheel, GM had a TSB about this, and has a lube kit for the cavalier. If you have a way of checking or have a friend who is a GM mechinac, the TSB number is 01-02-32-001H, it evolved the 97 to 05 cavaliers, GM part number might be 26098237
this is exactly off the TSB
CONDITION:
Some customers may comment on a clunk type noise coming from the front of the vehiclewhile driving during turning maneuver. This condition may also be felt through the steering wheel when vehicle is stationary and the wheel is rotated from steering stop to steering stop. Some vehicles may only exhibit the noise once every 360 degrees of wheel rotation. On all other vehicle, this clunk noise will be notice during low speed acceleration or deceleration, typically in light turns of the steering wheel.
CAUSE:
This condition may be caused by inadequate lubrication of the steering intermediate shaft which results in a "slip stick" conditionpossibly resulting in clunk noise.
CORRECTION:
for the 97- 05 cavaliers, remove the intermediate steering shaft from vehicle and lubricate the shaft with a steering column shaft lubrication kit P/N 26098237.
