tire rubbing...front struts seem much lower as well

[Tonglebeak]

I have a new problem that just came up.

My front tires (215/60/15) appear to have an extremely tight clearance to my struts...metal cover thinger or whatever the hell is over the wheel. I'm now noticing a lot of rubbing on the left side during any kind of suspension travel. My right side seems pretty low as well, but has a larger clearance, and I haven't noticed any travel rubbing.

A couple months ago I replaced my shocks. The ones on there before were original ones X_X

The struts were installed by monro when I first got the car in may of '06. I recall them sitting higher, so I could actually see the spring. Now I can hardly see the spring. Something changed...

Any ideas?

[86euro]

You may have weak or broken springs causing the front to sit lower. The spring perch on the strut will never get closer to the tire unless something major breaks (wheel bearing, knuckle, etc), or larger tires are installed. Look for rub marks on the plastic fender liner to see what might be rubbing.

[Tonglebeak]

I'm surprised they'd both go out at the same time...

My car does sit lower as well now, something definitely sucks.

[86euro]

Maybe you're just looking at it too hard, lol.
Are you sure it's a rubbing noise and not a groaning ball joint or something?

[Tonglebeak]

I can feel it vibrate through the floorpan..it feels and sounds like something's rubbing.

[LordDurock]

well get up in some stand and put a jack under the wheel to adjust the hieght of the tire. just start checking things. spring get weak with age so how many mile are on them

[Tonglebeak]

Ok, so I'm pretty sure the whole "seems lower" thing was all psychological x_x

This problem hasn't been happening lately, yet the tight clearance is still there, so I'm positive it's not a rub.

However, a couple nights ago I was able to replicate the problem while parked. Actually, I was parallel parking and had turned my wheels hard over to the left, when I put it in park, the car rocked back and forth as normal until it was rested, but during the rocking, you could hear the exact same sound (and feel it as well) as the motion was shifting. It stopped, when the car stopped, but I can't seem to reproduce it again for whatever reason.

Any new ideas?

[LordDurock]

get in there and check. it out. tell us what your see. check for all place the tire could rub. ect

[Tonglebeak]

it can't be the tire at this point though, that's the thing. I have no idea what to check for.

[dcjredline]

Suspension related I would bet.

[LordDurock]

it can't be the tire at this point though, that's the thing. I have no idea what to check for.

and easy thing to do is if you know its not the tire take it off and check for any worn bushings (they be cracked and yuck (like old motor mounts)) try adn move things side to sdie up and down ect.

[mickstan_VR]

ahh....motor mounts. fun.....NOT! That is the most god-awful job I ever had to do to one of these cars. Too bad they're not as easy as the top dogbone strut!
Are your axles going bad?
Check the strut bearing. Its to top piece if the strut assembly. The thing that holds to top of the spring in place. It you open your hood, you can see where they mount in the strut towers. See if the rubber spring cup is deteriorated or worn or if the nut on top of the strut shaft is loose. The shaft will spin so you have to hold it while turning the nut to see if its tight.
Did you have new springs put on with the new struts? Or did you get te entire strut assembly?
Look under the car and check the swaybar. Look at both ends, and the inboard mounts. Check for worn rubber there too.

[86euro]

The motor mounts are easy if the cradle is out of the way. That's a good excuse to put in a GX3 4spd auto:lol:

[skalor]

If you tire doesn't rub the spring perch on the strut while it's stationary then it doesn't rub while your driving. The tire and the strut are tied together and that distance doesn't change. I know my 225/50/16 have less than 1/4" of clearance with the spring perch but it has never rubbed.

[Jr's3800]

Sounds almost like a Hub assembly may be on its way out...

Is there a wrrrrrrrrrr...ing sound or a slight like roaring you can feel while driving the car? Does the sound change with turns or driving around the twisties?

[Tonglebeak]

It's more like a growl, and I haven't noticed it any lately. Either it's always there during a trip, or it isn't there at all. With the exception of when I had parked the other night, and the rocking back and forth after putting the car in park, reproduced it. It's like a growl that can be felt resonating.

[Jr's3800]

Next time you have the Car off the ground grab the wheel at the 6 and 12 O' clock position and see if there is any play in hub( Wheel Bearing ) assembly...

I have been through a few hub assemblies that sounded like a moan or groan.... Those Hubs were Blue when I removed them, and the bearings were rough when turned by hand..

Just another possibility and something for you to check

[Tonglebeak]

Will do whenever I actually get a chance to do that. This apartment complex is naziville now :\

I know it's probably not a tie rod end as I already replaced those back in August.

If it happens to be a bearing, do you know of any cheap places to get them? Even on ebay they're near $100

[Jr's3800]

Depends on the car...

I'd say $80-$110 or so would sound right..

But lets make sure thats the problem first:)

[mickstan_VR]

junkyard. 10 bucks

[LordDurock]

Will do whenever I actually get a chance to do that. This apartment complex is naziville now :\

I know it's probably not a tie rod end as I already replaced those back in August.

If it happens to be a bearing, do you know of any cheap places to get them? Even on ebay they're near $100

depending on if you had caught the bearing in time all you have to do it take of the wheels undo the cv shaft bolts put the tire back in and wiggle the the tire back and forth and they come part (the cv shaft hold the bearing together) clean and re grease with hi temp, hi peauser grease and your good to go........;)

if you get on at the junk yard i would re grease them as well

[Electra_T_Type]

junkyard. 10 bucks

Junkyard. Pocket.

[86euro]

Junkyard. Pocket.

That would require a fairly large pocket. Might look funny too:)

[Tuddi]

That would require a fairly large pocket. Might look funny too:)

Between the front pockets... hardon... :kekeke:

[Tonglebeak]

I never found anything wrong with the suspension since then. However, I noticed it the other night while idling (it was also raining outside). The faint growl could be heard and felt, and the idle felt rough too (shaking started to become noticeable, not bad but it was there).

Don't know where to go from here now :\

[SCREECH]

...I noticed it the other night while idling (it was also raining outside). The faint growl could be heard and felt, and the idle felt rough too (shaking started to become noticeable, not bad but it was there).

Well, if you've heard and felt this noise when you're sitting still and idling then it's obviously not a problem with the suspension, bearings, or any other moving parts except your engine or transmission. At this point it probably wouldn't hurt to take the car to a shop that does free estimates and get them to hear the sound and give you a diagnosis. I know it would depend on whether or not you could get the car to them while it's making the noise, but that sounds like the way to go to me.

[Tonglebeak]

Well, if you've heard and felt this noise when you're sitting still and idling then it's obviously not a problem with the suspension, bearings, or any other moving parts except your engine or transmission. At this point it probably wouldn't hurt to take the car to a shop that does free estimates and get them to hear the sound and give you a diagnosis. I know it would depend on whether or not you could get the car to them while it's making the noise, but that sounds like the way to go to me.

yeah, that's the problem, it's so intermittent and doesn't happen more than it does, that it'd be nearly impossible to set that up. :\

[SCREECH]

*IS* that the case, however, that the noise and vibration have been present even when the car is not moving, it simply has the engine idling? I just wanted to make sure that's what you meant when you said you heard the noise "while idling".

[Tonglebeak]

Yup, that's exactly what i meant.

Another thing that's happened (just trying to give as much info as possible), is that a time ago you could feel and hear the growl after putting in park, and when the car rocked back and forth, you'd only feel it when it hit its stops (whatever they're called that keeps the car from rolling in park lol), then when it settled it was noticeable. Can't tell you for sure if that's the same scenario I had a few days ago though.

[SCREECH]

Ok, after reading your latest message, and re-reading the rest of the posts, I would further investigate two things:

1. Exhaust - are there any broken mounts/hangers or any place where the exhaust is against the floor or could come into contact with the floor or other parts of the car, primarily up front since you report hearing it "on the left" and resonating "in the floorpan".

2. Transmission - this would include the possibility of a cracked flexplate. I know it's a poopy option to consider, but from what you're reporting this almost seems to be the greater possibility. You've said that you've heard and felt the noise a couple times now when you put the car in park and it's coming to rest. If there is a problem between the engine and the transmission (flexplate, torque converter, etc), or within the transmission itself, perhaps it becomes more evident when the stress or pressure of being in gear is relieved.

I have also ended up with one other question - when you start hearing the noise, does it change or go away with a considerable change in engine rpm? For example, when you put the vehicle in park and it's trying to find its' "rest" point, if you rev the engine, does it do it worse, not at all or about the same? And in this same scenario, when the vehicle comes to a complete stop after putting it in park, does the noise and vibration stop the instant the vehicle stops moving?

I've got a bearing that's VERY shot on my Trans Sport van - just waiting for a nice day (and a burst of motivation perhaps :) ) to change it - but it's noise and vibration is only apparent well off idle. I likely would not be able to detect it if the vehicle was rolling very slightly, such as what you're describing after putting the car in park. I can only see it being something in the drivetrain or maybe the exhaust, but my real money's on something under the hood. :uh:

[Tonglebeak]

It could possibly be the exhaust, I did replace the intermediate pipe and muffler several months ago (before the cold weather really set in).

As for revving the engine, I have not tried it while ilding. I know when it occurred while driving, engine rpm made my difference, and the pitch of the growl never changed. I'll have to try it with the idling though...

[Tonglebeak]

Just an update on this:

Went over a dip today without realizing it, so my suspension took a rougher hit than usual. After that, the problem came back...

RPM makes no difference with this it seems. Anyways, When braking, my car would pull to the right, and when accelerating, it'd pull to the left, hard. Felt like I had an insane amount of torque steeing while braking and accelerating..tie rods were replaced a while ago.

Still, not sure how it was there when the car was coming to a rest a while ago from that earlier scenario...

I had to wonder if a brake pad's catching or something? I just don't get it...

No abnormal issues with the engine or tranny either it seems. Problem went away again after driving for a bit.. :(

[CieraSL92]

Reading the earlier posts, I was going to suggest you check out the motor mounts for excess movement (assitant holding brake pedal, and lightly applying accelerator) but I don't know.

Are the ball-joints original?

[Tonglebeak]

As far as I know they are...

[centurycoupe]

if the ball joints are held by rivets they are original.have u checked power steering fluid level?maybe your rack is on the way out .my 6000 would groan when the level got low.

[Tonglebeak]

I wouldn't be surprised. I'd just like to know why my car's pulling hard to the left when braking...I can hardly keep this thing straigh anymore.

[CieraSL92]

An imbalance in the brake system (one set of pads not worn evenly as opposed to the other) will cause that, so will excess air in either line.

But since you said this was caused by a bump, ignore the brakes as a possibility.

Check the balljoints out. When they go, you can steer with the gas pedal almost. Didn't notice a change in braking when mine went out (on my jeep though, FWD may react diff)

[Tonglebeak]

K, another thing to add, if it helps any (glad I never notice this initially >:() is the pulling to the left, hard while accelerating, occurs the worst at high speeds. in good old torqueless 3rd gear. This might be someething important for everyone to know before I dump money into ball joints.

[Jr's3800]

Bad Ball Joint
Bad Lower control arm bushings
Bad strut
Bad Inner or outer tie rod
Bad strut mount

Could be any number of things that can cause issues.. Hard to say without being there to look at it closely.. Wish I could tho:)