Hey Kat,
By back and forth do you mean front to rear or in and out?
By jacking the wheel up a few inches off the ground, you can put a large pry bar under the tire.
By pulling up on the bar you can usually see movement in the ball joint and the controll arm bushings.
Putting your hands at 3 and 9 oclock on the tire and pushing in and ouit with alternate hands will show bad tie rod ends.
pushing in and out with both hands will show a bad bearing.

CV joints usually will make a clicking noise in a steering lock turn.

Good luck and let us know. :)
peppermj

Answered by peppermrj
19 questions asked

Hi peppermj,

Thank you so much for your reply.

The tire moves right to left (not front to back) when jacked off the ground and grasped with both hands. From what you wrote I am thinking it is wheel bearings. I called a man my husband knows who does car repair and he believes it is wheel bearings also. We have ordered a manual for the car and hope that helps.

The man I spoke with told me that the Saturn we have has some kind of pressed bearings and it may require a special tool to take them out or put them in, he suggested we let a mechanic do it, but he said he does not have the required tools. My husband wants to look at the book first, but I am leaning toward a professional.

Thanks for your input.

Katy

Response from kdietze
1 question asked

The link in the blue box to the left on this page entitled "Avoid Car Repair Ripoff" is an excellent read. My advice is to call for estimates. Try an alignment shop also. Some will do this type of work and be able to do the alignment while they have the car. this will avoid the need to put the car in the shop twice.

Good luck and let us know. :)
peppermrj

Answered by peppermrj
19 questions asked