Growling Noise When Turning Right

[DanielMaat89]

So I just got back from my trip out west. Had a Blast, did about 12,000 miles in a month, and did a lot of off-roading in Colorado and Utah and went through quite a bit of water and mud. It started when I was driving home and I suspect a wheel bearing. When I turn the wheel to the right at just about any speed a growling noise comes from the front end. I haven't had the time to really start diagnosing it, but I know I need to do the front brakes, and my CV joints are good. The caliper on the passenger side is starting to stick, so that is getting replaced as well. Am I on the right track, or should I start somewhere else? The noise isn't present when I'm not moving, even when I turn the wheel, so I don't think it is power steering.

 

[gbouton]

That sounds like classic wheel bearing failure to me, and if so, something to take care of sooner then later. You could also try jacking up that corner of the truck and pulling the wheel from the top and bottom to see if there is any tire movement...which also indicates a bad bearing.

Congrats on an awesome trip!

Graham

 

[shahsmerdis]

I had a noise similar like yours, it ended up being the skid plate... person who did the oil change bent the plate, rather than taking it off... never put it back in place. might want to check that first

 

[DanielMaat89]

The skid plate did take a few hits, nothing major, she does have 176,000 on her, so If she needs a wheel bearing, that's not to bad. Just from looking at it, it doesn't look too hard to replace the bearing, but other than that, I'd trust this thing to go cross country again tomorrow if I wanted.

 

[RonJR]

If it happens when the wheels are just partly turned, it's probably a bearing. If it only happens when the wheels are fully turned to the stop, I'd suspect the skid plate. The tire comes very close to the skid plate at full lock, and if it catches it just once, it will bend the plate down and then it will catch and make noise every time you turn the wheels to lock.

I just had to bend mine back in place today (2nd time this has happened). I'm ready to take a sawzall to that part of the plate and shorten it up a bit.

 

[DanielMaat89]

I just checked the skid plate and the little rubber pieces that keep water from splashing up into the engine bay, nothing is bent or rubbing the tire. I also took it out to a quiet parking lot with my brother listening on the outside. He is a GM mechanic and is sure it's the bearing. I will jack it up tomorrow and check the play. Can't complain, 176K is pretty good for a wheel bearing, especially the places I have gone with this thing. My old explorer I had in college would eat them every 60k!