Play in wheel

[Sapperstang]

Wifes car has 170K and is making a noise from the front right. When driving very slow, as in coming to a stop light you can hear what sounds like a grind or something. It is not constant and sounds like it has to do with the wheel turning. If you can imagine a grind coming from something turning you will have a sense of what I mean. Doesn't do it all the time and goes away as you get faster.

I went out and raised the car and there is a decent amount of play in the right front. I can move the wheel at least a cm back and forth in all four directions. The brake rotor moves as well of course. I lowered it and made sure the lugs were not loose and they weren't. Nothing looks out of place either.

I checked the left front and there is no play at all in that wheel. So it seems maybe the ball joint? I understand it is easier to replace the lower control arm instead of just the ball joint. Want to make sure this sounds consistent with a ball joint before I do anything.

Thanks.

[Sponsor]

[sjdwales]

could be wheel bearing?

[toxic_waste]

i'd check track rod ends, ball joints & wheel bearings, get yourself a long metal bar, pry bar etc & jack the vehicle up and use the bar to push against all suspect areas & watch for any movement

[Sapperstang]

Originally Posted by toxic_waste

i'd check track rod ends, ball joints & wheel bearings, get yourself a long metal bar, pry bar etc & jack the vehicle up and use the bar to push against all suspect areas & watch for any movement

I already know of the movement in all directions. Any way I can determine exactly what is the culprit?

[Nickgt40]

Originally Posted by Sapperstang

I went out and raised the car and there is a decent amount of play in the right front. I can move the wheel at least a cm back and forth in all four directions. The brake rotor moves as well of course. I lowered it and made sure the lugs were not loose and they weren't. Nothing looks out of place either.


Thanks.

Textbook wheel bearing failure.

[Sapperstang]

Originally Posted by Nickgt40

Textbook wheel bearing failure.

Does seem consistent.

[YellowJellyBean]

Originally Posted by Nickgt40

Textbook wheel bearing failure.

This is what I was going to say. I had the exact problems he's describing when my rears went out, except I decided to then go and drive on twisty roads until white smoke was coming from the hub (don't do that).

[Sapperstang]

Originally Posted by YellowJellyBean

This is what I was going to say. I had the exact problems he's describing when my rears went out, except I decided to then go and drive on twisty roads until white smoke was coming from the hub (don't do that).

She is saying it sounds somewhere between a squeak and a grind when slowing down (no brakes). Goes away when accelerating. Definitely happens when wheels are turning. It isn't constant. No clunking. I haven't had a chance to drive it.