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help diagnosing some noises

yzboy85

yzboy85

New member
Hey guys, looking for some help diagnosing some noises and vibrations that have really been annoying me lately.

First off, about a week ago, I started noticing a rhythmic groan as well as vibration which seems to come from the front passenger wheel area. It's not all that loud but I can feel it in my feet on the floor when it happens. It only seems to happen 35mph+, but not all the time. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it that I can tell (it doesn't seem dependent on turning or even speed, just doesn't happen when going slow). My hubs and axles are all new (in the last couple thousand miles) in the front end, and I tried swapping my wheels around to see if it was tire imbalance and there was no change, so I'm pretty confused....possibly defective hub?

Now, just a day or 2 ago, I started noticing a metallic popping/clunking noise (pretty loud) when driving slowly (in driveways 5mph) coming from the same area. Happens going over bumps, backing up, etc. I would say it sounds like the ball joint from some searches and reading I did online, but I just replaced the LCAs..

I am planning on jacking it up, taking the wheels off, and just making sure everything is tight this afternoon when I'm off work. Normally I wouldn't be asking but I literally replaced the whole front end (besides tie rods...which don't seem to have any play) a few thousand miles ago, so I'm kind of at a loss for diagnoses, unless some of its just cheap/defective (which I would think/hope it shouldn't be)..
 


Just as an FYI, the inner joint on CV axles are only held together by the boot, so a good one will separate too if you pull from anywhere but the base.

The only way I've ever known if an axle is bad is if you hear clicking while turning, or actually opening up the boot and looking for metal shavings. I'm not sure how to diagnose them without doing that...
 
I spent years chasing a clunk down. I replaced everything loaded lca's, rack, inner & outer tie rods, sway bar & bushing, transmission, axles, struts and mounts, upper lower and lower motor mounts. I finally got it last week, when I had the subframe bushings changed. I put oem bushings in and the ride is greatly improved, best of all no clunk!!

If your grand prix has high miles or decade+ old bushings they need changed. I highly recommend using GM parts for you motor mounts and these sub frames bushings. They are much smoother than anything you can get at the parts store. They make you car feel like is should.
 
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