I previously reported that I thought I had cured my front end "crunch" when turning left, steering wheel stationary, or backing left, steering wheel stationary.

1. Replaced rack. It was leaking a little and was a little sloppy anyway. Thought crunch cleared up for a day. Guess that was my imagination. Crunch returned.

2. Against my better judgement I replace left strut and bearing cap. Did not clear up "crunch" but man, the steering is much improved, so I went ahead and replaced the right one too to balance things up a bit.

3. $450 later I still had that crunch!

4. Two options left..........I will solve this problem up to $1,000 just cause I'm that way.

5. Adrenalin and being really pissed off , I gave one more try at rocking the tire from 12:00 position to 6:00 position. It just had to be around that wheel somewhere. The first several times I did this, when first starting on this problem a few weeks ago, I could not get a bit of movement. Now with my bad attitude I slammed the outside top of the tire inward with the palms of both hands in order to pre-load the wheel assembly in one direction in case there WAS some slop in there somewhere. Now I jerked the top of the tire outward as hard as I could, while pushing the bottom of the tire inward with both feet. Normally I would not have the leverage to do this but I braced my butt against the side of my wife'* Honda to get leverage (I use her Honda to run to the store to get parts for my beloved Bonne) EUREKA .... THE CRUNCH NOISE REARED ITS UGLY HEAD. I had duplicated the noise.

6. Ok, so now it HAD to be only 2 possibilities left- bearing hub or lower ball joint. I checked the lower ball joint on that side one last time (I did this by-the-book). Nope, it was as tight as a drum.

7. Now I've got the little bugger! I replaced the lifetime warranty bearing hub (boy, was Pep Boys surprized to see me; they don't usually get those things back under warranty; $149 now; I paid $98 10,000 miles ago!). NO MORE CRUNCH.

8. Funny how things work out when you are determined. I have yet to find one of my automotive buds or professional mechanics (my brother is one) who suggested the hub as the problem. They have all said that that was the last thing they would have checked too, so I don't feel so bad now. Look who'* smiling now.

PS - The bearing was always quiet as a mouse on that side. Must have had some major bearing race problem or something.

< I paid $98 10,000 miles ago!).>

Typo. That should read 100,000 miles ago.