[Shotimes] The infamous groan...

[Zach Leahy]

Rear wheel bearings may be casusing the groan, but there are also
other things too.  Have you actually jacked up the car and pulled a
wheel off to try and figure out with it is?  If you jack up the rear,
there shoudl be no play in the wheel, and it should turn nice and
smooth.  If it does not, you are looking at wheel bearings going bad. 
About 50 bucks a side, see Dave Kegel's recent post regarding them.  I
lended moral support to him at the hotel as he changed his.

It could be a control arm bushing scrunching around if the ccenter
sleve has seperated from the rest.  Usually a vigorous shake test on
your suspension (and I mean shake it pretty hard, but don't pull the
car off the jack) will locate your problem if there is one.

In the fornt, did you check your belts yet?  If not do it!  then if it
only occurs when you turn, look into the strut mounts.  Get a friend
to turn the wheel back and forth and see what is making noise.  It's
that easy.

We need data man, and theat means you need to get your hands dirty, so
go do it!  Go and work with a friend for 10 minutes and see if you can
locate the noises.

Z



On 7/28/05, George ask me <irocka528@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I was wrong...
> 
> The groan seems to be coming from the rear of my 1989 mtx.  the screeching is from the front...ideas?
> 
> George
> 
> Zach Leahy <leahyz@gmail.com> wrote:
> VO is a smart cookie. Except when it's reallyu hot at the track, then
> we forget stuff... A Stethescope is good, but for us cheap folks you
> can use a long screwdriver and just put your ear against it (use the
> pointy end on the motor, I'm not responsible for damage to your head)
> 
> Have you actually checked the belts? it is possible they are loose.
> Here's a tension test I use. take the belt at the longest point
> between pullies, in the SHO i use between the WP and PS on the 4 rib,
> and between the AC and Alt (although not the longest, but easier to
> reach) on the 6 rib. now, try to twist the belt. If you can turn it
> 90 degrees it is not too tight, but if you can turn it 180 degrees it
> is too loose. I know it's a bit different for everyone becasue some
> of us are built liek trucks as others are a bit more dainty, but it's
> a pretty quick and simple tensioning technique.
> 
> It sounds to me like something with the power steering. maybe the
> belt was slipping to begin with, and maybe now the pump is going.
> Check the fluid level, if it is low it wil groan. Flush the fluid
> (it's pretty easy, let me know if you need details) and see if that
> helps. The power steering can be run on ATX fluid, in fact that is
> what I use since it's cheap.
> 
> Start the car and have a freind turn the wheels back and forth, see if
> you can see anything wrong with the pump/steering.
> 
> Z
> 
> On 7/24/05, George ask me wrote:
> > well...
> >
> > It started as a high-pitched squeaking/screeching, like that of a belt. It would only happen when I turned my wheel sharply to either direction.
> >
> > Now, that continues, but I hear a groan occassionally. Only when I'm possibly moving in reverse, or moving into a parking space, etc.
> >
> > George
> >
> > van Oss wrote:
> > Bear in mind that we may not remember details about each person's car, so it
> > helps if you remind.
> >
> > Sorry to press further, but we can be most helpful to you if you take a few
> > minutes to be as specific as possible. For example, the groaning or
> > squaking occurs when you are doing what? Turning (how sharp?), braking,
> > accelerating, shifting, clutch in, clutch out, etc. If need be, get a
> > friend to drive as you (in or out of the car) listen and take notes.
> >
> > Do you own a mechanic's stethoscope? They're under $10 and very helpful in
> > diagnosing many noises and problems in the engine bay.
> >
> > I look forward to hearing more details.
> >
> > VO
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > sorry bout that. I thought people knew haha. It's a 1989 MTX. The sound
> > comes from the front end someplace. I dont' know specifically.
> >
> >
> >
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