Thread: 89RR - Noise from front hub, but not brgs or cv ?

Ssssssssssit, Ssssssssit, Sssssssit - is the noise it makes (unfortunatly not all the time), sounds like metal on metal. I can also feel an associated vibration. It's hard to hear with the vehicle running on jack stands (no load or weight on wheels brgs etc) even with all brake pads spread away from the disks so they are not rubbing, but I can hear something going on using one end of a screw driver on the hub while it's running and the other end to my ear.

This RR has the borg warner tranfer case with viscous coupling, but no sqeelling around corners and I can just rotate the front wheel (with all my strength) when it's the only wheel jacked up and the vehicle in neutral. So I dont think it's the vc.

I removed the hub and the wheel bearings look like new.

I removed the CV and removed all the balls - again like new. Theres no knocking sound at full steering lock either. After stripping down and inspecting there is no damage, just a slight flat spot on the inner race (near the middle) which allows about a 1mm of rotational slack when I grab the outside of the CV and turn it. I doubt is enough to cause the problem - but I'm not sure.

Any suggestions on where else to look? The sound has become quite bad very quickly and it sounds like something catastrophic is about to happen.

Thanks in adv,
Taz.

Thanks for your help guys,

The uni joints are fine.

I really dont know what the problem was. Which is frustrating. Today I replaced the wheel bearings, CV's and brakes and the noise appears to be gone.

The CV's were worn, but not to the extent of causing the vibration/noise - I wouldnt have thought, but perhaps I was wrong and 1mm rotational slack (grab the outside of the CV and rotate it around the axle) perhaps is too much. Or maybe it was simply that the backing plate was rubbing somewhere - I wasnt diligent enough to look out for that one. Anyway problem gone and will keep the used CV's as spares.