91 5SFE On it's last legs???

[sjents]

91 GT 5SFE.....

Front left wheel sounds like it's going to honestly fall off every time I hit a bump in the road. Very loud, very "clangy" sound. I'm positive it's not a CV joint, as it is a different sound and it does not make the sound while turning in either direction (unless, of course, I hit a bump).

Due to a lethal combination of laziness and fear, I have yet to take a look at it. Any guesses? Strut? Lower Controller Arm??

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

-Steve

[A Diddy]

what does this have to do with the 5sfe engine?

[canadiancelica]

That's be your wheel bearing. YOU SHOULD get that fixed as your wheel could very well pop off.

Its a fairly common 5th gen problem. Its stems from bad motor/tranny mounts. I had my wheel bearing go bad and I replaced the motor/ tranny mounts, specifically, the large hanger mount on the left side of the engine bay, tranny mount.

Not a hrd job, but definitly NOT for an amateur. Go to toyota and order the bearing kit (seals, etc) and order the wheel bearing from a reputable dealer ( I used NAPA) Toyota wants toooo much money for the bearing.
The old one has to be pressed out and the new one pressed in, best let a reputable garage do the pressing of the bearings.

Remove your entire knuckle assembly and take it to a garage !!

[sjents]

A Diddy- I was just trying to give you guys as much info as I could. The margin of error for diagnosis via The Internet is decreased when folks know what car I am speaking of.......

Not sure about the wheel bearing thing. I searched this forum and it seems wheel bearing issues result in a grinding noise at high speeds. My vehicle makes no noises whatsoever unles I hit a bump or pothole. It makes no noises while turning, at high speeds, etc. Just when I hit something. If that is indeed symptomatic of a wheel bearing going out, then I guess I have some pressing to do. I just don't think a bearing would ONLY make noise when hitting a pothole.

Thanks again for the replies.

-Steve

[canadiancelica]

Only onther "simple" possibility is a bad upper strut mount. They're going in my GF's car it sounds like a rattle, but it only happens on mild bumps, not larger ones, and at high speeds (wheel vibration).

But then again, you could be looking at a bad tie rod end, bad ball joint, bad sway bar link, rusted sway bar - to chassis mount, dried out/shrunk suspension bushings, cracked spring, blown strut.

Something in the front end is VERY VERY difficult to diagnose via the internet. A garage can test the majority of these possibilities simply by putting on a life, jiggling the wheel, using a stecheschope to check the bearing, physically moving the sway bar, visually checking the bushings/spring/strut for leakage, upper strut mount is harder to check while it is in the car. Removing it will tell u immediatly, it will be rough and loose.

Good luck to ya !!!