I searched the forums and none of the symptoms people described really fit what I'm hearing/feeling. Let'* see if we can diagnose the problem...

As soon as I start the car and start rolling back, and especially when I start to move forward, there is a low-pitched metallic grind/clunk coming from the left side of the car. It sounds something like two heavy dumbbells rubbing together intermittently. It'* definitely a rotating mass of some sort. Then it fades away as I pick up speed and it'* gone.

Also, during normal driving, like say through a parking lot... After I cut the wheel left and make a 90-degree turn, the sound comes back as I pull away and there is mild grinding/clunking again. This doesn't happen when I turn right.

The sound is awful right when the car is started and I go the first time. After that it calms down a bit, but it'* still noticeable with all the windows up and the radio on.

What can this be? It seems to be coming from the rear wheel area, but it'* deceiving sometimes and could be from somewhere else. Is it simply a lubrication problem, or has something gone to crap under there? Is it safe to drive?

Thanks

we are in the same boat. mine does it when changing gears ( from park to reverse) and i also get it when i give the car some throttle and let off. There was a thread awhile ago, for this same problem, and it was thought to be a trans mount, but I dont have excessive movement and neither do others

i guess the answer is your not the only one having this problem, and nothing has happened, to my car, or the others that have this problem

Some pssibiliites:
Rear wheel bearing
Front hub bearing
Rear brake hardware broken
CV joint
Caliper sticking
Harmonic balancer
Loose flywheel / flexplate bolts

I think it has to be one of the rolling bearings, possibly the front hub. I made a sprint home from across town earlier today and when the car was all warmed up and worked out I couldn't get the noise to come back. Tonight when I went down to the store it was back.

I don't understand... doesn't the left front wheel become "unloaded" during a left turn? Why would that hub be making a rolling grind after turning?

I don't get it.

Front wheel bearing noise is really tricky to diagnose. It does not always make noise when it is loaded - sometimes it makes noise when UNloaded. I (and others) have been fooled before and changed the wrong dang side only to find the noise still there and had to change out the other to fix the problem.

CSFiend wrote in an earlier post:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...797&highlight=

Another way to check -- set the parking brake, put the car in neutral, and using a floor jack, lift the front end of the car. Gently rest your hand on the coil spring and spin the tire. If it'* the wheel bearing, you'll feel it grinding through the spring.

You forgot:

Cat
Dog
Small child...

Sorry, had top do it now that serious helpful answers have been suggested