1999 Saturn SL1 groaning noise

Tiny
BD2CP
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  • 1999 SATURN SL1
Noises problem
1999 Saturn SL1 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 90K miles

Hi- I have a 99 Saturn SL2 that's making a strange noise. While driving straight or turning left it makes a continual groaning noise unlike a CV joint/halfshaft. When a I turn to the right even the slightest the noise goes away; could it be a wheel bearing? Thanks for help.
Monday, September 20th, 2010 AT 3:12 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Most likely it's your front wheel bearing probably your left bearing. Do you have a floor jack and jack stand's?If so I can give instruction's on how to test the bearing and figure out if it is the left front bearing.
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Monday, September 20th, 2010 AT 4:04 PM
Tiny
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Thanks Saturntech9- I do have a floor jack and stands.
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Monday, September 20th, 2010 AT 11:03 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Here's what you need to do put the car on a level surface block the rear wheel's with the ebrake on. Jack up the front of the car with the front wheel's off the ground put the front of the car on the jack stand's. Now put the car in neutral go to the front wheel's put one hand on the coil spring use your other hand to turn the wheel as fast as you can if the bearing is bad then you should be able to feel it in coil spring. Compare one side to the other and see if one or both is bad. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 1:24 PM
Tiny
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Thanks Louie, Will give it a try and let you know.
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Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 7:42 PM
Tiny
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Hey Louie, I just tried what you suggested and on the drivers side I don't feel anything but the right side there does seem to be a slight 'vibration' if you will coming up into the coil spring and it doesn't sound as clean as the drivers side. But I'm also hearing the halfshaft spinning so not 100% sure of what I'm hearing. I checked the boots of the CV joints and they look good. If I pull the everything and check the bearing will I be able to see that's it bad or not because it's a sealed bearing? Thanks for your help, Bill-
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Sunday, September 26th, 2010 AT 11:19 AM
Tiny
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Your are looking for a feeling when they go bad you can feel the vibration in the coil spring. If it feel's smooth then the bearing is good that's why I asked you to compare the two side's so your checking both of them and feeling the difference between a good one and a bad one. AS far as seeing anything you can't the bearing is pressed into the knuckle and the hub is pressed into the bearing. When you remove the hub from the bearing most of the time the bearing come's apart.
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Sunday, September 26th, 2010 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
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OK, Thanks Louie. Gunna pull the pass side apart and hope it's the bad one. If not, guess I'll do both.
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Sunday, September 26th, 2010 AT 4:33 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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After you pull the axle out of the passenger side hub try spinning the hub without the axle in it you should be able to feel the bad bearing that way too. Let me know how you make out.
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Sunday, September 26th, 2010 AT 4:47 PM

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