Ok guys. You all are probably going to call me insane on this one, but here it goes. When I am making a slow left turn (like in a parking lot and after the engine has been warmed up for 5-10 minutes (every time I start it after sitting for more than a few hours I let it warm up) I can hear a "groaning" sound coming from under the truck on the driver side. It's been going on for about a week now. It is not that loud. I can hear it the clearest when the window is open. It seems to be driving fine, especially at high speed with no issues.

Here is what I know.

1. List of stuff done over the past 1.5 years:

a) all 4 ball joints July 2008
b) Passenger Side CV Axle (Outer boot split open) September 2008
c) Driver Side (Inner boot slow leak) CV Axle February 2009
d) Idler arm (had a little play) and Upper driver side ball joint (AGAIN) June-July 09
e) 2 or 3 alignments in the past year
f) front brakes and rotors (rotors rotted (pieces in rotor missing) because they were SANDBLASTED 11/07 just after I got the car when the brakes were replaced. Someone else (NOT a mechanic) did that despite my objection.) Late August 2009

g) rear brakes and rotors a month ago (SAME thing)
h) Countless front end inspections since I've got the car in November 2007
i) All stuff greased every oil change (every 2500-3009 miles) and I make sure
j) Front diff Fluid changed when the driver CV axle was changed
k) Transfer case and rear diff fluid changed by express oil change place during the summer(NOT a mechanic)
l) Power steering fluid and coolant flushed in August 2009
m) Oil Lines replaced less than a week ago


All of this (except where noted) was done by the same professional mechanic who would tell me honestly if anything was wrong.

2. I already know the shocks are shot (rear one on driver side covered in oil and the others are possibly original). Could that be a factor?

3. There is some play in the steering box, but I was told it isn't bad and doesn't warrant fixing.

Thanks for any answers.

 

You could have a brake caliper slightly tilting (grinding) on the rotor. This could be caused by either the caliper sliders sticking and/or a ball joint with slop in it.

 

That could explain alot. Because for a while (few weeks) after the rear brakes were replaced and the parking brake fixed (was not holding the car after an incident. I'll explain it another time), every time I would park the car, the rear brakes would smell like they were on fire, but there was no smoke or anything. I had the brake fluid flushed in February 2009, I forgot to mention, if that matters. I got home from college one time and pulled into the garage. My mom came into the garage holding the dog and even before saying hello, she yelled "POP YOUR HOOD! YOU GOT SOMETHING ELECTRICAL BURNING!!". I said "No, it is the rear brakes. They have been doing that for a while. If it was electrical: that is what FUSES are for. Some circuits are protected by 2, 3 or more fuses to prevent stuff like that." I would think it is just because of the high speeds I have been driving. Sometimes I've had to slam the brakes on from 65 MPH because of deer or other stuff (2 weeks ago today I had a near miss with a huge chunk of rubber bigger than my engine (literally) in the middle of the lane on the NYS Thruway from a tractor-trailer. I was in the left lane passing a slow vehicle. I nearly locked up the brakes and skidded to get into the right lane. There were smaller pieces in the right lane, but I managed to dodge them. Helps playing video games. Nerds got better reaction time .

 

It could be a bad wheel bearing. It could also be a bad bearing in the axle housing.

 

I think it is the rear brake on the driver side. Definately coming from the Rear Left wheel. I did a test at one of the travel plazas along the NYS Thruway on my way home tonight. I always shift into drive with my foot on the brakes. That made a rub/groan sound when the tranny goes into gear. I found a flat place away from everything and everybody where the car wasn't rolling anywhere in neutral and put it into drive without my foot on the brake. No noise whatsover. Very smooth also. So it seems it is coming from the rear left brake. It would explain the smoke smell also if it is dragging at high speeds on interstate highways...... I am going to have it checked out tomorrow morning (BEFORE BREAKFAST) for sure.
It can't be a wheel bearing. The same noise happens when the brakes are applied, dragging (barely applied, car rolling) and turning left at low speeds. Someone would have noticed if something was wrong because the truck passed the NYS inspection a few weeks ago as well.

P.S. Is this probably going to be an expensive repair? With this problem, does it need new calipers or can the old ones be fixed?