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Author Topic: So I re-learned something today.  (Read 1396 times)

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Offline Sammconn

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So I re-learned something today.
« on: September 02, 2015, 10:02:45 PM »
So mama's car is a 2005 Impala, screwed up and didn't go LT. That's another story.
Its just over 30k miles now, so lot rot is as much an issue as wear and tear.

A few months ago, the leaky power steering got real bad. Dumped all the oil bad.
The garage in town, re-used the steel portions and repaired with proper fittings the hose portions.
All good now. But wait, one of the fittings didn't get tightened properly.
In their defense, its a nasty nasty nasty spot to work, this is why I said, nope we can pay to fix this...
So they got it beat, and all was good, or so we thought.

Now I'm going to make a long story longer.
The story is going to be a bit scatterbrained, as I'm really at a loss with the sounds I heard tonight.

Fast forward to a couple months ago, and "The car is making a funny sound when I drive it." conversation occurs.
My first though, power steering pump shot.
So we go for a drive, and it's the thump/grind of a wheel bearing.
30k, wheel bearing??? :o
So I pick up a pair, and change the bad one, not enough time to do both.(Cabin was calling)
Go for a drive, noise is gone. All good right?

Fast forward to this week.
"The car is making funny sounds again when I drive it." conversation occurs.
So I said, I'll get the other bearing done soon.
Tonight, I WAS going to go out shooting bullets and smelling powder (a favorite past time).
Now the car is making some new sounds.

First one isn't new, it happens once the car is warmed up some.
When turning the wheel either way, a kind of growling sound emits from the drivers side predominately.
Verified with mama turning wheel, and me crawling under both sides.
So my thought was, after the wheel bearing noise, that the bearing is that bad.
Well it wasn't, and still made the noise after.
So now I'm leaning towards pump on its way out, but the pump is on the passenger side.

The next noises were new to me, and I suspect mama hasn't heard them with the radio always on.
One is almost like a loose wheel, rhythmic but only while coasting. (Wheel is tight)
Another almost sounds like a bad CV, but they both look good.

Which leads me to what I have re-learned tonight.
This car has no grease zerks. Not on the ball joints, or tie rod ends.
Now I'm wondering if the growling type noise is just a dry ball joint.
So my plan now I think, is to jack it up on stands, unload the ball joints and see.
But it may not do any good if its the pump, then with no real load, it likely won't growl.

Ken, you ever seen this?
I just don't want to wind up missing a digit or limb.  I can sometimes get in a hurry to get results.
Sam

Offline KensAuto

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Re: So I re-learned something today.
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2015, 11:03:15 PM »
Not at 30k. We don't get the moisture around here.
You checked the p/s fluid....amount and if it's aerated? If there's air bubbles, that would explain why it can be heard on left side, as it travels through the rack and pinion valving.

if the bearings where actually bad (not questioning you....ok maybe a little) then it's quite possible that a lower ball joint has also had some water intrusion/rust stuff happening. To check those, drive it up on some blocks, have the wife turn the wheels while putting your finger on the ball joint....you'll definitely feel it grinding.
CVs don't usually make noises like that, while sitting in one spot.....even when the boots are totally gone.
...but upper strut bearings can...
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Offline Sammconn

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Re: So I re-learned something today.
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2015, 01:33:19 AM »
PS fluid is still good, that was what I'd hoped originally, but it has not went away.
The bearing was growly, I was shocked too.
The boots on the ball joints are quite deflated, and I suspect they'll be coming out soon too.

Was out for a drive since, and at full lock either way, no noises or any kind of CV issue I can see, feel, or hear.
Was wondering about the struts...
When I got home did some dry steering to see what is going on.
It will make an eighth or so turn then growl either way.
The RPM went from 8-900 down to just over 500, so something is working it hard.

Is it maybe something in the rack? Obstruction, or ??
« Last Edit: September 03, 2015, 09:46:34 AM by Sammconn »
I just don't want to wind up missing a digit or limb.  I can sometimes get in a hurry to get results.
Sam

Offline Sammconn

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Re: So I re-learned something today.
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2015, 10:25:06 AM »
Ok so I did some more investigating this morning in the light.
Found a stone in the caliper, so the loose wheel bad CV type sound is gone.

Now more info on the power steering growl.
When the car is cold, no noise whatsoever.
Once it gets close to operating temp the growl begins.
It has new PS oil as none was left after the hose let go.

I'm beging to lean towards pump is toast.
I just don't want to wind up missing a digit or limb.  I can sometimes get in a hurry to get results.
Sam

Offline KensAuto

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Re: So I re-learned something today.
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2015, 10:42:28 AM »
Fluid is good but no mention of small air bubbles. Growling is almost always air intrusion.

It's hard to tell the difference between a bad rack or pump. When the rack piston seals go bad, it fights itself, forcing pressure on both sides of the rack/piston.
I usually only see this on cold startups.
If it does have air, it's probably the reservoir. It has a screen that plugs up, and forces the pump to suck air past the o-ring where the res hooks to the pump.

I rarely ever change out one of those pumps because they just "went bad". But I've changed a few because of reservoir issues. I suppose if it was ran low on fluid, it could have damaged it tho.
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