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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Possible Wheel Bearing?

  • Thread starter Thread starter bigc2330
  • Start date Start date Mar 18, 2015

bigc2330

Member
Nov 13, 2009
78
7
9
Mar 18, 2015
#1
  • Mar 18, 2015
  • #1
My car is making a clunk noise or grinding noise when driving over a rough bump / rough railroad crossing and will make the same noise when making a left turn with a bump in the intersection. I have not heard it while making a right turn with or without driving over bumps. I can make left turns all day with even pavement and will not hear the noise. I have also tried driving in circles with the wheel completely turned left / right in a parking lot and did not hear the noise. The noise is coming from the front passenger side of the car.
This is not the normal whine/squealing sound that I have heard from cars with bad wheel bearings.

I lifted the car and tried wiggling the wheel up/down, left/right and did not notice any movement.
Brakes are about to need replacing by visual inspection (no squealing yet)

The car is a 2000 GT. Stock ride height. New front control arm (bushings and ball joint). Struts, sway bar bushings, end-link bushings, are about 2 years old (appear to be in good shape).
 

squeak93

15 Year Member
Jun 2, 2005
2,264
363
164
Joplin, Missouri
Mar 18, 2015
#2
  • Mar 18, 2015
  • #2
Can you bounce the car while sitting still and replicate the noise? Or is it ONLY while moving and turning left? This will help narrow down the source.
 

bigc2330

Member
Nov 13, 2009
78
7
9
Mar 18, 2015
#3
  • Mar 18, 2015
  • #3
The car will only make the noise while it is moving. it is hard to describe. Almost sounds like the caliper is bouncing on the rotor.
 

squeak93

15 Year Member
Jun 2, 2005
2,264
363
164
Joplin, Missouri
Mar 19, 2015
#4
  • Mar 19, 2015
  • #4
With the car jacked up and secured, can you duplicate it that way?
 

bigc2330

Member
Nov 13, 2009
78
7
9
Mar 23, 2015
#5
  • Mar 23, 2015
  • #5
No, I could not duplicate the noise with it on jack stands.
I did notice the my front brake pads were thin, but I don't think that has anything to do with the noise I am hearing whenever it happens.
 

bigc2330

Member
Nov 13, 2009
78
7
9
Apr 13, 2015
#6
  • Apr 13, 2015
  • #6
Update: I found the problem and I was wrong about the noise coming from the front of the car.
The noise was coming from the metal fuel line that runs under the body of the car. The fastener broke away from the car and was dangling right above the driveshaft and when I would hit a bump it would slap against the driveshaft making the grinding/clunk noise.
Problem fixed!
 
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