[Inflikted1]

Hey all,

Been a huge fan of this forum for a while! You guys have been awesome at helping me out keep my 97 trep running!!!

Anyways, I'm hoping that y'all can help me out again! I recently had the struts replaced on my trep after one blew out on the last turn into work - $800.00 fix, and the mechanic tells me that he thinks he hears brake rub when driving now - but given that I was already paying so damn much in strut repair (something that I cannot do myself) and I needed to get the car back so I wouldn't have to take any time off of work - I told him that I would have them check it out at a later date.

But here's the kicker - It doesn't sound like the brake rubbing at all! I replaced the pads, and the rotor - and still get the sound - it sounds more like a thumping coming from the wheel somewhere. But it is the worst when curving to the left, or going around a left hand curve - when the wheels get turned slightly to the right - then it quiets down. There is no sign of any rubbing/grinding on the rotor or the pads.

I put the car up on jacks - and tried to simulate the sound - but I couldn't' get the sound to duplicate - it seems to only happen when there is pressure on the tire - like pressure from the car sitting on it and driving.

Could that be a sign of a bad shock perhaps? The strut is brand new - so what could be making a thumping/rubbing sound while driving - yet being bad when the wheels are going towards the left, yet going away when the wheels are curving to the right?

Thanks!

[MasterTech]

Check the sub-frame support bushings and the sway bar bushings and links. Axles usually click but look for a damaged boot anyway while your checking it they can tear or get damaged during strut service. You should check all the bushings and steering and suspension components while you have it up. Did the tire fold up on you?

[Inflikted1]

No - the tire hasn't folded up or anything like that... Just a light thump that vibrates the car when pushing 70mph. I also forgot to add that my wheel hub has one stud missing - thing sheared off a while ago - so maybe that has something to do with it?

Thanks,

[MasterTech]

That sounds like a tire, jack it up and spin it and see if it is out of round. Was it a spring that broke?

[hrmwrm]

bad front bearing. probably on the right, as it seems to be when you put more load on it.(when you turn left, it puts more load on the right wheel)

[MasterTech]

I second a possible wheel bearing, they just usually hum, or sound like excessive road noise, not a thumping sound. Absolutly worth checking.

[Bart68]

I would say it's the bearing as well.

[1993 EagleVision]

I agree because of the change of the sound with the turn of the steering wheel.