Long post but please help if you can.
Hey guys, my fiance's 97 Cavalier Z24(130k miles) has a horrible noise coming from the front end of the car while driving. Let me give you some history first. A few months ago there was a similar noise but would only happen when making left turns going around a bend in the road(35mph or faster). I replaced the passenger side wheel bearing and it took care of it. So now this new noise sounds just like what it was doing before but it is making the noise all the time(from 10mph and faster) when making left turns and much LOUDER, so this weekend I replaced the drivers side wheel bearing but this time it didn't solve the problem. Now that the front of this car has two new wheel bearings and is still making this horrible noise, I need some input. It is the sound of a bearing going bad for sure but I need to know if there are inner bearings inside the tranny that can go bad. It is an automatic overdrive. Are the bearings that the CV joints go into that can be replaced from the outside of the tranny or does the tranny have to come apart? If not, then what other problem can the car have? Can a CV joint be making a worn bearing type noise? I want to figure this out before the bearing takes a crap. Thanks
Horrible clicking / grinding noise ? Bad axle . if you've done the bearings then you can do the axles to. Just take it apart like you did for the bearing but this time when its all apart grab the axle and give it a good yank. It should pop right out. Then take the new one and put it back in. Repeat for the other side and just put it back together like you did for the bearings. Its not hard at all.
Beware the trans will leak / dump some fluid when you pull the axle so be ready for it so you don't make a mess.
Goood Luck
Now that your done..............thats right , Beer TIME !!!!!!
Semper Fi SAINT. May you rest in peace.
Thanks for the advice Jackalope but I figured out my problem and it was my error. I torqued down the axles too much and ruined the bearings again. I will pull it back apart and start over and do it the right way...........sigh..............
Damn !! Well that sucks !! Make sure you torque it to the factory specs and good luck.
Semper Fi SAINT. May you rest in peace.
