I have a violent grinding noise on a left turn only a tight left not a wide left and only once and a while. It sounds like its coming from the pass. side it also makes a clunk at low speeds when turning. The clunk is a spring loaded clunk and it only happen from 5-8 mph when in a parking lot. I did find the rack loose so I took the bolts out and bolted them in with a thread locker it still makes the noise though. I heard that the DeVille is a sister platform I was looking to buy a 2002-2003 is this the case that they are the same suspension? Any help with any of these issues would be great. Thanks -Ron

Check your disc brake backing plates. It is possible that one is rubbing. Not sure on the new arrival of a spring loaded clunk unless that is a strut mount.

Is the backing plate the plate that holds the abs connector?

No, that'* the heat/stone shield behind the hub.

You'll need to remove your calipers again to make sure about the backing plates. Did you use pad lube when you reassembled? Did you lube the slider pins?

(please put your year and trim/model in your signature by editing your profile).

Yes..on your year it is.

I agree to check for anything rubbing against the rotor. Also, check your transmission fluid level. Todd (Rogue) has suggested overfilling by about a pint to prevent pump starving on sharp left turns. This should not show up as a grinding however. I've found that on some sharp left turns, with some acceleration, that it can activate the traction control system, which could cause some strange noises.

If you have a 2000 (and maybe a 01), the spring seats and isolators have been known to wear through, and that could be causing your clunking noise.

Its a 02, do they have insulators? Whats the deal with loose rack bolts, I bought the car with 50k and have detailed maintenance records showing no suspension or steering service other than intermediate shaft replacement. Is this a common flaw on the bonne my friends mom had a rack break out of her 01 grand am wtf. I have the bonne parked now till I figure out the grind noise, its not while braking so I figure the thin metal abs retainer or the trans. I swear I trade a noise for a new noise monthly. I drove the 97 gmc safari today with 160k with no noise at all although it gets only 14 to a gallon and sux to park. p.*. for the 100k we put on it only oil changes brakes and trans flush.-Ron

As the noise started after the hub replacement, and everything had to come off to do that, it is quite possible the shield got bent in the process. The 02 also has the insulators. They just have been more of an issue on the 2000s. They were redesigned later.

Edit - There'* only been a couple of posts regarding loose bolts to the rack, so it is apparently not that common of a problem.

I found a guy that has a 98 ssei 4 sale, I went to look at it tonight and it looks perfect with a clean carfax. It has 83k on it and perfect interior he has a asking price of 6500 and I couldn't find rust, scratches, or leaks anywhere. He claims hes selling it cause he lost his job (him and half of my fellow Michigan residents) and was firm on the price. I had a 98 se before this lemon and it was the best car I ever owned reliability wise. I wanted to know some trouble areas on the 98 ssei archon the car has a smaller */c pulley, headers and a cat back exhaust system. Its owned by a older guy that takes care of his stuff (the car sounds mean and has a strong passing gear) all the mods are tasteful. does the price sound fair? Do these engines take more boost w/o head gasket issues?

That'* about $1,000 too high for a vehicle in excellent condition (which few meet) according to to Kelley Blue Book http://www.kbb.com/, and $1,500 for one in good condition. Except for minor differences, it'* the same engine as in the 2000+*, and the 3800 engine is not known for having head gasket issues.