Front end noise and vibration

Tiny
CBRASSO
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 FORD FOCUS
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 220,000 MILES
Have a loud winding sound that sounds like grip tires coming from the front. Replaced passenger side axle including bearing and noise still exists. With the car jacked up both front tires off the ground I stopped one tire at a time and noise is coming from driver (left) side. Removed driver side tire and winding sound isn’t there but I hear what sounds like if you would tap 2 wrenches together. Like something is loose. That particular axle was replaced before and has about 30,000 miles on it. I will add that that particular axle had given problems in the past after it was replaced. It would lock into the transmission but eventually back out to where you needed no tool to remove from transmission. Now it does have slack where axle goes into the transmission. Is it the bushing behind the seal in the transmission that’s bad or could just the axle be worn down? As for the noise without the tire could it be the additional weight on tire and wheel making the axle make noise?
Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 6:25 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good morning,

Can you upload a video of the noise for me to hear?

The axle stays engaged from a C clip that keeps the axle from moving in and out.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-cv-axle-bearing

It sounds like either the inner or outer CV joint may be making the noise.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-cv-joint-works

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-cv-axle

I attached the procedure for the axle replacement below for you.

Roy

3. Remove the LH wheel and tire.

4. CAUTION: Do not use a prying device or separator fork between the lower arm ball joint and the knuckle. Damage to the ball joint or ball joint dust boot may result. Only use the pry bar by inserting it into the lower control arm body opening.

Detach the lower arm ball joint.
1 Remove the lower arm ball joint nut and bolt.
2 Detach the ball joint.
Insert a pry bar in the lower control arm body opening to separate the ball joint.

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5. Press out the halfshaft stub from the wheel hub and detach the LH halfshaft from the wheel hub.

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6. Remove the retainer holding the brake tube in the strut bracket.

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7. NOTE: Support the halfshaft. The inner joint must not be bent at more than 18 degrees.

Remove the LH halfshaft from the transaxle.

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8. Remove and discard the halfshaft circlip.

Installation

1. Install a new halfshaft circlip.

2. NOTE: Make sure the snap ring is fully engaged by pulling on the joint housing.

Install the LH halfshaft into the transaxle.
3. Using the special tool, install the LH halfshaft stub into the wheel hub.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 7:22 AM
Tiny
CBRASSO
  • MEMBER
  • 43 POSTS
ASEMASTER6371, yes I can upload a video for you.
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
CBRASSO
  • MEMBER
  • 43 POSTS
Here is the video. Thanks
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Monday, December 21st, 2020 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Thank you.

This sounds like the hub bearing in the spindle where the brake rotor is located. I attached the procedure below for you for the repair.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/bearing-hub-replacement

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/bearing-press-how-to-use

Dust front brake material gets into the bearing and wears it out in a short period of time.

Roy

Removal

1. Remove the wheel knuckle.
2. Remove the circlip from the wheel knuckle.

3. NOTE: After the wheel hub is removed from the knuckle, the wheel bearing must be discarded. The bearing inner ring will remain in the wheel knuckle.

Using the special tools, remove the wheel hub and outer bearing race.

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4. CAUTION: The special tools must be used to prevent damage to the hub. If the hub is damaged, a new hub must be installed.

CAUTION: Do not use heat to remove the bearing inner ring or damage to the bearing may occur.

Using the special tools, remove the bearing inner ring from the wheel hub.

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5. To aid in removal of the bearing outer ring, install the bearing cage onto the inner ring and install the assembly into the wheel knuckle.
6. Using the special tools, remove the bearing outer ring from the wheel knuckle.

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Installation

CAUTION: To prevent wheel speed sensor ring damage, make sure that the sensor ring is clean. Make sure that the sensor ring does not make contact with metal surfaces and avoid any impact on the sensor ring.

1. NOTE: Make sure the wheel bearing is installed into the wheel knuckle with the wheel speed sensor ring, colored black, at the wheel speed sensor end of the wheel knuckle.

Using the special tools, install the new wheel bearing to the wheel knuckle.

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2. Using the special tools, install the wheel hub into the wheel knuckle.

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3. NOTE: Make sure the circlip does not cover the wheel speed sensor or damage to the sensor may occur.

Install the circlip into the wheel knuckle.
4. Install the wheel knuckle.
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020 AT 2:57 AM
Tiny
CBRASSO
  • MEMBER
  • 43 POSTS
Okay, so you’re thinking the wheel bearing. Now let me add something new to this problem. I noticed the seal into the transmission is leaking a very little. Being I have to replace that I guess I could change the axle also. It wouldn’t hurt.
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020 AT 3:37 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
You need to remove the axle anyway, so yes, change the seal while you are there.

Roy
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020 AT 4:39 AM
Tiny
CBRASSO
  • MEMBER
  • 43 POSTS
Will do Roy. Thank you sir! I’ll post my findings when done.
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020 AT 5:46 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020 AT 5:51 AM
Tiny
CBRASSO
  • MEMBER
  • 43 POSTS
ASEMASTER6371, I haven’t changed anything yet. Waiting on owner to make the call but I did forget to mention one thing. When trying to track which side noise was on I could easily hold passenger side tire from spinning by hand at about 1,500 RPM's as the driver side would turn just a lot slower but when I took driver side tire off the passenger tire couldn’t be held even at idle. Is this considered normal?
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 9:02 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Yes, it is.

Use a stethoscope to narrow the side that is making noise.

Roy
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Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 AT 9:09 AM
Tiny
CBRASSO
  • MEMBER
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Roy, just letting you know it was definitely the left wheel bearing. It had gotten so hot it welded itself to the hub. Replaced the bearing and hub as a kit and all is well. Thanks again for the continued help.
Regards,
Cory
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Thursday, January 7th, 2021 AT 2:50 AM

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