Ok, I have a 89 Bonny with what sounds to be a shot wheel bearing.

The sound seems like it comes from the Passenger side front tire. However, Bonnycrazy was kind enough to tell me that if I turn to the right and the noise goes away its my Driver side wheel bearing.

Well when I turn to the right the noise does go away, so my question is why does everyone seem to believe when they get in my car that it is coming from the passenger side?

good question. one which i dont have the answer to. i will probably research the topic on the internet, and notify you of any results. dont worry, i have always wondered about that question too.

but why is it that the side the sound is heard on is opposite of the offending bearing. i think that is one of the main questions. common sense states that the noise would come from the side with the offending bearing.

what im saying though is that mechanics told him drjivers side bearing, when everyone heard it on the passenger. as a frequent cartalk freak, they get these kinds of calls all the time.it sounds like its coming from the right sid, so check the left side.what gives? is there something im missing?

Well, :? when I get home I will jack up the front end and check for looseness on both sides before I continue cursing out my Jeep ( I am in way over my head on the Jeep, Replacing my first engine what a PITA!!)

Ok I tried the 12 and 6 shaking thing and got no play whatsoever....So now what do you guys think?

NJ, have you considered a bad strut? They have a way of acting like (or sounding like) a shot hub/bearing assembly. Mine fooled me for a bit too. Roll your windows down, and warm up the car (til it idles quietly). Get in the passenger side, and hang your head out the window. Get a buddy to put your car in reverse, and back up....then hit the brakes. Now put it in Drive, and go forward, and hit the brakes again. Do you hear a pop, crack, or creaking noise? If so, and the shaking test was actually negative, I'd bet a bad strut.

If not, you're looking further into the suspension.

My experience with our '90 SE (bought new) is that a front weel bearing does not make a thump-thump-thump like older cars, is more of a whine and as mentioned it will go away when on the inside of a turn and get worse when on the outside. Mine were generally most moticable at about 45 mph.

Good news is that it is a very simple replacement (about a 1/2 hour if no corrosion).

Have also experienced a very annoying squeak on the Interstate that turned out to be the upper strut bearing

Ok I have had enough with this noise... I might have to start a new thread but lets try here first. :?

Things I have checked:

Jacked the entire front end up in the air, grabbed both tires at the 12 and 6 position and tried to shake.....NO MOVEMENT

Took off the passenger wheel and caliper noise still there with fron wheels turning in the air.

So I don't think it is the strut because the whole front end was in air and when gas was applied I would still here the noise.


PLEASE HELP!!! Offer suggestions on other things to try

Can someone tell me how to check for bad strut or bad cv? I really need to get rid of this problem