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Is there a "hanger bearing" on the axle ?
( for lack of the proper term )
a bushing between the tranny & CV joint ?
My old SL1 needed this fixed - similar symptoms.
John T.




>>>>
>>>>> I have that whining/grumbling noise on a 2005 Ion-2 with 5-speed.
>>>>> Something like the sound of coarse snow tires, but the summer tires
>>>>> are on.
>>>>>
>>>>> Bit it doesn't change when turning, like an earlier bad bearing on our
>>>>> SL-2. What could this be? If it is a bad bearing, then which one? I
>>>>> tried jacking it up and turning the wheels by hand, but could not
>>>>> figure it out.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>
>>>>You should be able to feel the vibrations of a bad bearing when you jack
>>>>up the car and turn the wheel by hand. Also, try rotating the wheel
>>>>against the axle -- out of plane movement. You may also have loose lug
>>>>nuts.
>>>
>>>I tried rotating the wheel when jacked up, could not tell which side.
>>>The lug nuts were just tightened to 90-95 ft-lbs.
>>>
>>>I will try jiggling the wheel next.
>>
>> No free play on the wheels. Jacked up the back and it isn't the back
>> wheels. They turn freely.
>>
>> There isn't much noise until 20 MPH or so. It's still there with
>> engine off and transmission in neutral.
>>
>> Still can't tell which side it is.
>
>
>IMHE, a deteriorating wheel bearing will make noise for a very long distance
>before failing. Use caution, YMMV. As the bearing deteriorates it will
>normally make more noise when cornering and usually more in one direction
>than another.
>
>Until the bearing gets quite bad, it is often hard to feel or hear any bad
>bearing noise when inspected by hand, largely due to the drag from the brake
>pads. If you remove both front calipers and pads, (hang the caliper with
>wire, do not suspend with the brake fluid hose) and reinstall the wheels,
>then the bad side noise will be easier to find by spinning the wheel. IMHE,
>The bearing needs to be really far gone before any excess play can be felt.
>A proper mechanics stethoscope can be helpful. It is quite easy to replace
>the wrong side bearing, DAMHIK.
>
>Good luck, YMMV
>
>