Good afternoon all! I have been tracking down a groaning noise. Sounded like the pass front. CV boot was shredded, so figured I would do axle, wheel bearing and inner ball joints (since I would have the axle out.) Ended up doing both passenger's and driver's side.

With that all completed, the groaning is still haunting me. My buddy hopped in and took a listen while driving. The speed at 60 mpg, put in neutral and just coasted. He stated definitely sounds like the passenger's rear wheel bearing. Then....

I just decided to gently apply the e-brake. With that, the noise reduced. Do you feel anything from the e-brake could have changed the load on the bearing to quite it down or is it something with the brakes?

I have no negative brake symptoms what so ever.

Side question - after doing the front end work, the steering feel is very light when under acceleration and the steering wheel is slightly turned now. Can the inner ball joint job cause this to happen? Is the light feeling due to being out of alignment now?

Thanks in advance!

 

The only thing that I can think of is that the e-brake might be changing the pressure on the bearing, so the noise changes. By pressure, I mean a slight change in weight (pulling the e-brake can pull the rear suspension slightly toward the chassis), or perhaps even a little lateral, or twisting pressure (probably not likely since the e-brake works on the rotor, which is very close to the same plane as the bearing). I know that when front wheel bearings start to fail, the noise often changes when you turn the steering wheel, even slightly.

Just speculation....I'm no mechanic.

 

Bugeye1031, that is what I was getting at when stating "could the e-brake" change the load on the bearing. I appreciate the response, at least I know someone else is thinking the same thing

It has 168k on the clock, so can't hurt to have new wheel bearings in the rear as well. I would just like to have all the parts when I start the work. So, if it brakes, I can get them ordered to do bearings and brakes at the same time.

 

Going to move you to the Stock Problems/Issues area, should get some more views. Have you checked to see how much rear pad is remains? The pad sensor is on the passenger rear.

 

Quote: SleeperX
Side question - after doing the front end work, the steering feel is very light when under acceleration and the steering wheel is slightly turned now. Can the inner ball joint job cause this to happen? Is the light feeling due to being out of alignment now? end quote
Yes!

 

Ok, woke up early and swapped the passengers rear wheel bearing. BAM, all fixed!!!!!! Thanks everyone.