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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 27
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 27 |
I'm getting a grinding noise from my front end (driver side most noticeable). I thought it might be a brake issue so I had the rotors machined (they were slightly warped) and made sure I lubed the caliper slide pins (I thought they might be sticking) I didn't see anything loose or rubbing but the noise continues.
There doesn't seem to be any excessive play in the hub, so my next guess (wheel bearing) doesn't seem to be it either.
Every so often I'll get a click or a knock when I turn (either right or left) so then I'm thinking CV joint, but the boots appear intact. However, I have an unexplained light coating of oil on the frame below the inner CV joint even though I don't see and rips or holes in the boot.
What do you think? I've tried to diagnose this SOB the best I can so that if I have to take it in, I have an idea what I'll get hit for.
Thanks for your input.
When I bought my 1995 Contour I always joked I would drive it until the wheels fell off...never did I realize that with this car, that could actually happen!
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 289
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 289 |
I had the knocking noise earlier this year and it turned out to be the sway bar link. It was most noticeable when I turned as well. Not to sure about the grinding noise. I had a humming noise from the drivers side and it turned out to be a wheel bearing. Hope this helps.
1995 Contour LX
238,000 miles
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 27
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 27 |
Yeah I wish it was something like the sway bar link. That's not my luck. I had searched through the archives and I did find at least one person who had a grinding sound and it ended up being the wheel bearing. It just seems that it usually is a humming noise. Searching through the net at large, if it is the wheel bearing and it is making a grinding noise, I need it fixed now, not later. "A loud, constant grinding noise when driving the vehicle (heard in the most severe cases of a wheel bearing failure)" Yeah, that's not cool.
When I bought my 1995 Contour I always joked I would drive it until the wheels fell off...never did I realize that with this car, that could actually happen!
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,459
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,459 |
I had the wheel bearing problem. The noise changed as I steered left or right. Also, when I jacked up the car, there was a very noticeable amount of play in the wheel with the bad bearing. What about the axle assembly? Do you notice any play in it?
95 Contour Zetec, ATX (wrecked, sitting in the barn)
95 Mystique Zetec, MTX
2000 Taurus SEL 3.0L Duratec
1994 Crown Victoria LX 4.6 V8
1993 Chevy Silverado 4.3 V6
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 770
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 770 |
Grinding noise could also be from engine mounts. Bad tranny mount will let the tranny case bump and rattle the engine carriage. Bad engine mount will allow metal to metal in the mount when the engine flexes and while rolling over bumps and sometimes when turning a corner. Shoot a light up in there and see if there is rubber all around the ring.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 27
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 27 |
THE VERDICT: Driver's side front wheel bearing. Which isn't so bad since I anticipated it ($140 installed). Unfortunately, the hub ($170) was messed up as a result. At least with the new alignment, the brake work I did, and the bearing fixed, it's quiet and my braking is nice and smooth.
When I bought my 1995 Contour I always joked I would drive it until the wheels fell off...never did I realize that with this car, that could actually happen!
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