Left Front Wheel Clicking

[canis]

Hey y'all - I've got a '98 Z71 with a 4" Rancho lift and 98k miles. I recently replaced the left front wheel hub assembly because it had play. The brand new one from Napa had play in it also, so I had to replace it again (suck). That was about two months ago, and now there's a metallic clicking sound coming from the same wheel. The clicking matches my speed, and is the worst when turning left. It also does it when braking and turning right (but not as bad). I lifted the wheel off the ground and spun it, and no clicking. Lowered the wheel and rolled the truck in neutral, and click click! Is there any way to diagnose if it's ANOTHER bad hub assembly, or possibly the CV joints?

 

Thanks!

[superjim]

Hey y'all - I've got a '98 Z71 with a 4" Rancho lift and 98k miles. I recently replaced the left front wheel hub assembly because it had play. The brand new one from Napa had play in it also, so I had to replace it again (suck). That was about two months ago, and now there's a metallic clicking sound coming from the same wheel. The clicking matches my speed, and is the worst when turning left. It also does it when braking and turning right (but not as bad). I lifted the wheel off the ground and spun it, and no clicking. Lowered the wheel and rolled the truck in neutral, and click click! Is there any way to diagnose if it's ANOTHER bad hub assembly, or possibly the CV joints?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Are you SURE the noise is from the left wheel area?

If it is a bearing, and you turn left and the noise gets worse, it is probably the RIGHT side. There is less weight and stress on the left side when turning left and more weight and stress on the RIGHT side.

 

But is could also be a CV joint clicking. It may be going bad and when they do, they WILL click.

 

Try this... barely jack up the left front wheel, with a floor jack or a bottle jack under the left "A" frame. You onle need it about an inch odd the ground.

This will keep the wheel in a more or less normal position.

THEN spin the wheel and see if there is any clicking.

You may need someone else to spin the wheel while you are under the truck listening for the click. You may need to also have your hand on the half shaft going to that wheel to see if you can FEEL anything, even if you can't actually HEAR IT.

[canis]

Thanks Jim. I got under the truck with it in neutral and rolled it back and forth with my head right by the left wheel - the click is definitely coming from near the left hub assembly/CV/caliper area. I tried lifting the tire off the ground and spinning it, but no click.