Newly acquired 99 Zr2...

Recent Maintenance:






U-joint replacement

oil change

transmission fluid

front and rear differential fluids

coolant flush

upper/lower ball joint replacement on right-front hub

4-wheel alignment


all wheels balanced

I STILL get a "whubwhub whub" noise accompanied by a synched vibration that increases in both speed and intensity the faster I go (which to this point has been 90mph). Visual inspection shows that the top of the tire sticks out further relative to the driver side wheel--as if it has too much positive camber (keeping in mind I've had the alignment done already).

I noticed that turning right increases the loudness of the whub-whub, whereas turning left helps to diminish it seemingly.

What do you all think I'm looking at? Bad tire, bad hub? Framework? What's the likely suspect for this car assuming there's been no abuse or accident?

 

i would say hub possibly or bearing but a whub whub sounds like a tire sound though in my opinion like a swamper sound or just a big tire sound

 

Way to narrow it down there man! LOL

Anyway, check the tire for uneven wear or saw-toothing of the tread. If you find uneven wear, try rotating that tire to the back and live with it until it is time to replace the set. This isn't so much an issue with 4wd vehicles as it is on AWD vehicles, but to a certain extent, uneven tread depth (and subsequently tire height) can cause some problems even on a 4wd. If your tires are fairly new and you have the $$ to replace the affected tire, then you shouldn't have any problems.

Next would be to check the left front bearing for play. Jack up the front end of the truck and support it on jackstands. With your hands at 12 & 6 o'clock on the wheel, push in on the top and pull on the bottom, then alternate back and forth, feeling for any play. If you have play, you then have to determine if the play is in the bearing or the ball joints. Since the ball joints were just recently replaced, you *should* be able to rule them out. With a 4wd, it is much more difficult to narrow down a bearing that is just noisy and has very little play in it. Due to your description of the sound, it sounds like the bearing is pretty far along... You should be able to determine the cause of the noise.

Hope this helps!

 

i try to narrow it down or at least spark up some other diagnostic from someone else if i don't know what it is lol

 

Sorry, I should have put down what else has gone on. Didn't have time last night.

I've done an underside inspection of the entire area, even measurments relative to the driver side. Things visually look alright (other than the excess "camber"). The tires (the original, more worn tire was already rotated straight back and the current right-front was theright-rear when I originallypurchased it)themselves don't seem to have any "sawtoothing" of the main body on the section width, but there is excessive wear on the far outside of the tread, just like having too much positive camber on a race tire.

If I go and buy a new hub (since I have to replace the ABS sensor anyway that I think was torn out when they replaced the ball joints) I should get a new bearing with it as well no?

I saw them on ebay for like $159 or so....

All the tires are pretty new too...except for that abnormal wear....damn shame.

 

The hub/bearing is all one assembly on these trucks. It can be had for $84.95.

Another possible culprit is the CV shaft. Has yours leaked any grease? (it'd be green and all over the frame near the front diff).

 

Nope...I didn't notice anything abnormal about the CV boots, nothing seems to be torn, and I didn't see any grease anywhere. But I also didn't look at the CV's too closely in particular. I would think that with CV joint damage that there would be noises like popping when I'm turning at low speeds--which I do not experience.

But I know little about these trucks...so I appreciate the help guys...I really do. I just wish I knew as much about this truck as I do my car.

 

As Jigg stated, the hub is the bearing, it's one assembly. The hub/bearing will come with a new ABS sensor.

I'll also agree with Jigg on the CV shaft. Didn't think of that one the first time through. Other symptoms of a worn CV shaft is a clicking at full steering lock when moving. With that you are correct.

And knowledge will come with time and experience working on it! Don't get discouraged!!

 

Hey take a look at this shiznit:

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/wheel-beari...S00003/641211/

Seems to be for both sides....good deal or no?

 

Hmmm....well....I'll take a look at the underside again. Here's the thing thatwe haven't yet addressed:

Which might have an affect on how the wheel's "camber" sits? I.E. which is more likely to cause the top of the wheel to sit farther outside of the wheel well than it's supposed to?