Grinding noise

[sseaman]

I have a grinding noise that sounds like it is coming from the front drivers side when slowly turning left, it doesn't matter is the brakes are applied or not?

Any ideas?



I also get an odd rattling sound when going over bumps, would this be the strut bearings? if so is it fine to just replace them or should i replace everything?

[new echo owner]

A little more info about your car would help, mileage, etc.

N.E.O.

[Jigg007]

Originally Posted by new echo owner

A little more info about your car would help, mileage, etc.

N.E.O.

I'm going to guess its a 1998 Avalon XL with 138 thousand miles.

Grinding noise or rubbing noise? How much turned to the left? Only left? I know my 96 makes a rubbing noise with the wheels fully turned. But thats because I have P215 tires and I think they hit the well when the wheel is fully turned.

[new echo owner]

Originally Posted by Jigg007

I'm going to guess its a 1998 Avalon XL with 138 thousand miles.

Grinding noise or rubbing noise? How much turned to the left? Only left? I know my 96 makes a rubbing noise with the wheels fully turned. But thats because I have P215 tires and I think they hit the well when the wheel is fully turned.

Cheat!

The questions you were asking were also some of the information that I am referring to too. Otherwise, we can give a whole bunch of speculations without really addressing what he needs.

N.E.O.

[sseaman]

it sounds like grinding when turning slowly, like pulling out of a parking spot, and it happens from half to full turn left.

on the struts question, they are blue so my guess is they were changed at one time, but unsure if everything was done then. I don't get a clunking sound or extra bounce, just the rattling sound when going over bumps at less than 20mph, at higher speeds i dont hear anything

[new echo owner]

Depending on the servity of the grinding noise, it is possible that it is cause by the brake pads. If you can hear the noise when you are driving down the road, and it changes when you make steering changes, wheel bearing is the possible cause.

The noise from the struts may be caused by the upper strut mounts, if the wheels are hitting the bumps at the same time. With 138k, you might consider the struts and bearings too. If the noise happens when the wheels are on uneven surfaces, then you may want to look at your swaybar and links.

N.E.O.

[sseaman]

I think i have fixed both problems. I replaced all 4 sets of pads, and rotors, the rear rotors had deep grooves in them. On my test drive i was still getting a grinding noise, i found the dust shield on the front passenger side was rubbing the rotor. It must have been hit by some debris or something.

For the struts the nuts on the top bolt under hood needed about another 1/8th turn, and now that sound seems to be gone.

We'll see how everything is in a few days.

Off to the repair shop tomorrow for new valve cover gaskets.

[KyleCannon]

could be the power steering fluid is low..?

[sseaman]

Follow up, the grinding has not come back so it must have just been the shield behind the rotor, and tightening the strut mounts seems to cured the other noises.