I have a 2002 GMC Yukon XL 2500 that I bought a couple of years ago. 6.0L engine, 4WD, 4L80E transmission. Roughly 190,000 miles on it right now. The issue I'm having is a grinding noise coming from the driver'* side front wheel area when turning left from a start. Never notice this noise or feel the grinding when driving and turning left, if that make sense. I do not notice the grinding when making a right turn from a start, only when making a left turn. The grinding noise is not extreme, but enough you can hear it and feel it. I've had my mechanic check the wheel bearing, axle bearing, CV joints, etc, but all seem to be good. Tonight, when backing out of a parking spot and turning the wheels to the right, I hear a pop from the same area, and then it happened again while coming to a stop at a red light. I know what I'm describing is pretty vague, but I'm hoping someone may have some insight to what may be happening. I appreciate any and all help in advance. Thanks for your time.

I'd bet a nickel it'* the wheel bearing. I'm not sure how your mechanic checked it, but that'* my guess. Sometimes they feel tight by attempting to shake the wheel out and in while it is in the air, but is still coming apart on the inside.

CathedralCub, thanks so much for your reply. I will double check the wheel bearing, but, if it is the wheel bearing, I figured it would be making the grinding noise and feel all the time and not just when I make a left turn. Your thoughts?

IF I'm right: As it gets worse you might feel a little, if anything, before it makes terrible shrieking sounds and gives up. If I'm right.

The right front bearing on 2001 YukonXL got a little loose, very little, and was growling enough that I could hear it inside, but I didn't feel anything. Then:

1. Back out of the driveway.
2. Drive 1.2 miles to Napa.
3. Drive home with two new front bearing assemblies.

As I pulled to a stop in the driveway the right front bearing made a dreadful shrieking sound, that I still didn't feel.

Once I fought it out (it was a fight, as this car had grown up in the Northeast), I found that it had come apart inside and dry rust dust was coming out through a side of the bearing casing that had been ripped open by chunks of things inside. That was at ~253,000 miles.

Not intended to be a scare tactic, that'* just how mine went . . . and I wanted to relate that I didn't feel a thing even when it was finished. The rust told me that it had gotten water inside and had probably been eating itself longer than I had noticed.

I swapped both of them and found that the left one wasn't far behind.

From this side of the internet I can't diagnose yours for sure, but it sounds like a bad wheel bearing from what I can tell of it.

If you do replace yours, before you install them:

1. Carefully pull the antilock sensors.
2. Sand and clean the flat surface of the housing that faces the sensor.
3. Paint the flat surface of the housing that faces the sensor (just a quick zap of any color rust-oleum will work).
4. Reinstall sensors

Now you won't have phantom antilock interference at low speed many miles from now (because rust won't build up under the sensors).

CathedralCub, thanks again for all of your help. Great explanation, and it makes sense. I'm going to tear back into it sometime soon. I'll try to remember to post on here the results. I appreciate your time and input.

No problem. Remember: I'm guessing from the far side of the internet. There isn't a good substitute for a good in-person diagnosis.

I'm curious what you find.