Thread: Scraping noise at low speeds.

Originally Posted by Bedwards

I haven't changed the bearing. What load test? Turning and listening for a change in sound? I hear the sound more in straight line. It doesn't seem like turning affects the noise. This noise started after putting the new cam in. I changed the axle at the same time too. Ever since then.

Originally Posted by RegalGS98s

When I had my bearing go bad, you couldn't feel it by grabbing the tire. I had to do a load test. As you drive at maybe 20-30 mph, try steering the car left to right. Think they call it loading the bearing. If your steering to the left and the noise gets louder, it's your right bearing. If you steer to the right and it's louder, it's your left. You say your wheel bearings keep going bad. Are they a good brand and are you torquing the axle nut to spec? When I first had the car and had someone else change the wheel bearing, they torqued it down with an impact and it looked like they were making it kind of tight. 6 months later, the bearing failed. I changed it myself next time and torqued to spec. Torque varies by year. About 70k miles later, the bearing is still good, just have problems with the wheel speed sensor wires.

Basically you would rock the car back and forth and from the weight of the car transferring onto that side, it would put more of a load on that bearing so it would make more noise. Re-torquing the axle nut at this point wouldn't make the noise go away. Damage would be done if that was the problem. This might seem like a lot of work, but could try swapping the left and right side bearings and see if the noise appears on the left side instead of the right.

Originally Posted by Bedwards

The noise is also only when my foot is on the gas. If I cruise with my foot off the gas, it goes away. Wouldn't the wheel bearing continue to make noise?

Have you tried doing the load test driving with your foot off the gas? If it doesn't make a difference in the noise then to me it would have to point to a transmission problem. I know you changed the axle also, but that should make noise if you're on the gas or not. I assume when you say on the gas, you mean just enough gas to accelerate easily or maintain speed, not a hard acceleration.

Also to see if it's the brakes, try riding the brakes with the gas. Just apply the brakes enough for them to touch.