Rattling Noise coming from drivers front wheel

bry21317 · November 28, 2006

2003 Suburban LT 4x4

I have noticed that when I hit bumps at times, I hear this rattling sound like something is loose in the front driver side wheel. I was thinking it might be there bearings, but I am not sure how to tell. It is quiet, other than when I hit the bump with the Window down and I can hear it, other than this, I can't here a peep from it.

Just wondering what It might be, as it is annoying at times.

I have replaced the Sway Bar Bushings in the front, the Sway Bar End Links, Shocks with Bilsteins, not due to this problem, but cause I wanted it to handle better.

Also how tight would you tighten up the End Links for the Sway Bars? One side, the driver side got really tight, but the passenger side had more room to go, but I left it about the same number of threads as on the drivers side. So they are about the same distance, not sure if this is correct or not, but thats why I am also asking.

Thanks,

Bryan

chanswork · November 28, 2006

you're experiencing something that 99.9% of GM truck owners experience. Problem with your steering shaft. There is a lube kit you can buy at the dealer to lube the steering shaft, that is a temporary solution to your problem. The dealer says it's just an annoying clunking noise, nothing more than that.

You can do a search for steering shaft problems, there are many threads on this topic.

silverad03 · November 29, 2006

I have a very similar issue with my Silverado 1500 and, in my case, it is not the intermediate steering shaft. If it is your intermediate steering shaft you will most likely feel the clunk in your steering wheel but it is likely that you wouldn't feel a wheel bearing clunk in your steering wheel unless it is pretty bad. The intermediate steering shaft clunk also tends to show up when turning the wheel and not only when you hit a bump.

The way to tell for sure if it is your wheel hub is to jack your front end up and grab the wheel at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions and rock the wheel back and forth (in and out, not forward and backward). There shouldn't be any play. If you have more than an quarter of an inch of play you should probably start getting plans together to have your hubs changed soon.

As far as the sway bar end links, there will be some variance between the two endlinks if your front suspension is at different positions side-to-side. The important thing is that you tighten the links enough that the bushings are contacting the bar without smashing down and bubbling the bushings when the bar is centered between the endlink washers. When I installed my Hellwig sway bar, I tightened both endlinks about the same amount but the bushing on one side was smashed down more than the other side because my suspension wasn't lined up perfectly side-to-side. When I moved the truck the suspension leveled out better and they are close to equal now. Just the sway bar doing what it does.

Hope this helps.

bry21317 · November 29, 2006

Thanks guys,

I will check the wheel bearings as it is not the Intermediate steering shaft noise, I have that also and know what that is. I have regreased it once and am going to do it again this weekend, but this is a different noise, I can only hear out the window, and it comes from the drivers front wheel. The shaft does do the clunk in the column and floorboard, but doesn't make this same like squeeky noise. Its not the shock either, as I replaced those. So I will give the bearings a check and see what happens.

Thanks,

Bryan