Front end noise

**pajeff02** · 10-25-2010, 05:15 PM

We picked up an '07 Suburban in late August and have put around 1,000 miles on it. This evening, Dawn went to head over to her son's with a load of furniture and called me from 5 minutes down the road saying that the truck was making some noise. I had her turn around and come home so I could take it for a spin.

Sure enough, there is an intermittant grinding noise that is very loud coming from the left front wheel. It seems unrelated to the brakes and will do it both while turning and going straight. Seems much to sudden for a wheel bearing as the truck didn't make any noise when I drove it 40 miles yesterday. I looked under it quick and do not see anything awry. The CV joint boot is intact and no grease is being thrown.

Any ideas? It's raining good up here so I am waiting until tomorrow to get it up in the air to check things out.

**Wesman** · 10-25-2010, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

We picked up an '07 Suburban in late August and have put around 1,000 miles on it. This evening, Dawn went to head over to her son's with a load of furniture and called me from 5 minutes down the road saying that the truck was making some noise. I had her turn around and come home so I could take it for a spin.

Sure enough, there is an intermittant grinding noise that is very loud coming from the left front wheel. It seems unrelated to the brakes and will do it both while turning and going straight. Seems much to sudden for a wheel bearing as the truck didn't make any noise when I drove it 40 miles yesterday. I looked under it quick and do not see anything awry. The CV joint boot is intact and no grease is being thrown.

Any ideas? It's raining good up here so I am waiting until tomorrow to get it up in the air to check things out.

Check the backing plate. Sometime they get hit against something or rust out and touch the rotor, which creates a horrible grinding sound like you describe.

**pajeff02** · 10-26-2010, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by Wesman

Check the backing plate. Sometime they get hit against something or rust out and touch the rotor, which creates a horrible grinding sound like you describe.

I'll be looking it over tonight. Just weird how it was fine Sunday night and then after sitting for 24 hours all of a sudden it is making an awful sound.

**konigandy6** · 10-26-2010, 07:14 AM

When you're driving at slower speeds (parking lot), make hard turns both ways. If the noise gets louder when you're turning right and quiets when you turn left, it's probably the wheel bearing. Good news is, if that's what it is, it's covered under the powertrain warranty. If you have it in the air, rock the tire top to bottom to see if there is any play in the bearing. We change wheel bearings all the time, mileage really doesn't come into effect as much as road conditions do.

**pajeff02** · 10-26-2010, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by konigandy6

When you're driving at slower speeds (parking lot), make hard turns both ways. If the noise gets louder when you're turning right and quiets when you turn left, it's probably the wheel bearing. Good news is, if that's what it is, it's covered under the powertrain warranty. If you have it in the air, rock the tire top to bottom to see if there is any play in the bearing. We change wheel bearings all the time, mileage really doesn't come into effect as much as road conditions do.

Are they prone to sudden failure? All my past failed wheel bearings have started to whine in turns and you always knew what was going on.

**bdub2145** · 10-26-2010, 10:03 AM

i would check to be sure like konig said . did you have a load of furniture in it yesterday though?

**pajeff02** · 10-26-2010, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by bdub2145

i would check to be sure like konig said . did you have a load of furniture in it yesterday though?

Just a computer desk that had to be taken apart to load and some small items. May have 200 lbs. of cargo in it total.

**konigandy6** · 10-26-2010, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Are they prone to sudden failure? All my past failed wheel bearings have started to whine in turns and you always knew what was going on.

They go either way. You can have a small noise gradually grow, or you can have play in the bearing with no noise at all. We have seen it several ways. Go out and drive it and load up each side, that will be a sure sign. That or wobble the tire top to bottom when you have it in the air. But keep in mind, sometimes it will grind but have no play what so ever, and vice versa, it will have tons of play but it will be quiet. Those bearings are a little squirly sometimes.

**pajeff02** · 10-26-2010, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by konigandy6

They go either way. You can have a small noise gradually grow, or you can have play in the bearing with no noise at all. We have seen it several ways. Go out and drive it and load up each side, that will be a sure sign. That or wobble the tire top to bottom when you have it in the air. But keep in mind, sometimes it will grind but have no play what so ever, and vice versa, it will have tons of play but it will be quiet. Those bearings are a little squirly sometimes.

The only other thing there is the CV joint, right? Are there any 4wd components at the end of the axle that could be grinding?

**bdub2145** · 10-26-2010, 12:23 PM

in the diff there is bearings that could go bad also.

**konigandy6** · 10-26-2010, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

The only other thing there is the CV joint, right? Are there any 4wd components at the end of the axle that could be grinding?

Yes, but unless the boot is torn, we don't see many CV's going bad. And nothing at the end of the axle, I assume you mean towards the wheel not the differential. Just the CV to the hub.

Originally Posted by bdub2145

in the diff there is bearings that could go bad also.

Yes true, but it is not common at all. Easiest way to tell is, diff bearing noise won't change pitch on side to side driving motions and the noise usually will "pulsate" when cruising at a constant speed.

**bdub2145** · 10-26-2010, 02:54 PM

I've had bearings go out and not be pulsating and i know about the side to side . just throwing out any possibilities .

**konigandy6** · 10-26-2010, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by bdub2145

I've had bearings go out and not be pulsating and i know about the side to side . just throwing out any possibilities .

It's a definite possibility, it's just very rare. We barely ever have to rip into a front diff unless it's for a leak.

**pajeff02** · 10-26-2010, 03:49 PM

You guys are right on the money. Front wheel bearing it is... but on the passenger side. It's funny how the sounds can be deceiving like that. Vid I took about an hour ago:

**konigandy6** · 10-26-2010, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

You guys are right on the money. Front wheel bearing it is... but on the passenger side. It's funny how the sounds can be deceiving like that. Vid I took about an hour ago:

Ahh.. and it's a bad one too!!! That was one loose mother!

Take it in, should be under powertrain warranty

**pajeff02** · 10-26-2010, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by konigandy6

Ahh.. and it's a bad one too!!! That was one loose mother!

Take it in, should be under powertrain warranty

Dealership is about 26 miles down the road. Dare I drive it?

**konigandy6** · 10-26-2010, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Dealership is about 26 miles down the road. Dare I drive it?

You should be ok. Stay away from dirt roads, pot holes and sharp left turns.

GM will cover up to $100 for a tow, so 26 miles may be a little out of that range.

*EDIT* You can take it to any GM dealership, not just a Chevrolet dealer... in case you didn't know that.

**pajeff02** · 10-26-2010, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by konigandy6

You should be ok. Stay away from dirt roads, pot holes and sharp left turns.

GM will cover up to $100 for a tow, so 26 miles may be a little out of that range.

*EDIT* You can take it to any GM dealership, not just a Chevrolet dealer... in case you didn't know that.

Thanks Andy! I'll probably take it back to where I purchased it.

**pajeff02** · 10-27-2010, 07:16 AM

Heading up to the dealership after lunch to get the bearing replaced. I have my brother-in-law on standby in the roll back just in case I don't make it.