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Chevrolet Malibu: Steering/Suspension

156 messages,  Last post on Dec 05, 2009 at 6:37 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu SS, Steering, Suspension, Sedan


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#147 of 156
Front Wheel Play by smonday
Nov 03, 2009 (11:28 am)
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Hello all. wonder if anyone can help me with my problem. I have a 2006 Malibu LT. I recently replaced the front left wheel bearing due to the typical "howling" noise at highway speeds. Now I have another problem. I noticed a very low clunk noise while turning the steering wheel in the front end. I jacked up the vehicle and check to check the ball joints and tie rod ends. While checking the left wheel is tight with no play at all. The right side has a slight side to side play. There is no movement in either the ball joint or the tie rod end. I had my wife turn the wheel while it was in the air and I did hear a slight creak coming from the strut. While wiggling the wheel the whole steering knuckle move back and forth. Is this a problem?
 
Any help would be appreciated.
#148 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [smonday] by e_net_rider
Nov 04, 2009 (3:49 am)
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Replying to: smonday (Nov 03, 2009 11:28 am)

When checking ball joints, the weight needs to be on wheel. Many front end jobs were sold by the mechanic taking a big pair of channel locks and squeezing at the joint and exclaiming, look at all the play. In truth, there was spring pushing the ball into the socket and nothing wrong.
You need to describe your situation a bit more, specifically what is attached to the joint in question. It does not sound good.
 
How many miles on vehicle?
#149 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [e_net_rider] by smonday
Nov 04, 2009 (1:32 pm)
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Nov 04, 2009 3:49 am)

There is approx. 78000 miles on the vehicle. Alright, I'll try to describe a bit more. With the car jacked up there is no play while gripping the wheel on the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions and pushing up and down. But while gripping the wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock locations there is movement while pushing in and out on the wheel. I had my wife do this while I was looking at the steering knuckle and the back of the wheel. The entire assembly had the play in it. I also had her wiggle the stearing wheel back and forth and there didn't appear to be anything irregular then either. There appeared to be no movement in either the ball joint or the tie rod end. I'm thinking it might be the strut but I'm not sure. At first I thought it might be the wheel bearing but there doesn't appear to be any play in the bearing.
#150 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [smonday] by gonogo
Nov 05, 2009 (9:08 am)
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Replying to: smonday (Nov 04, 2009 1:32 pm)

Is the tie going into the rack showing play, the passenger side rack bushings are known wear problem. I replaced my rack at 40 K for worn bushing , 04 Malibu.
#151 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [smonday] by e_net_rider
Nov 05, 2009 (12:46 pm)
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Replying to: smonday (Nov 04, 2009 1:32 pm)

How about pushing in and out at 12 & 6?
Again, to determine if lower ball joint is worn, you need to have weight on wheel, or put a block under the joint to support. You may have to remove wheel to get blocking into position, and then it would be best if both side are equally elevated so that the stabilizer bar is not exerting any force.
 
78K might not be premature if you drive a lot of rough road. Is there damage to the rubber boot? I've many times surpassed 150K without replacing lower ball joint on various vehicles.
Have you had the vehicle in somewhere that they might sell front end work and they had it in the air? Unscrupulous mechanics will loosen parts a bit. After some mileage, the part breaks loose from the tight seat and you realize a problem, thus sometimes returning to that last place. Now they sell you the job, and it is much easier to do the work because the parts are already loose.
#152 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [gonogo] by e_net_rider
Nov 05, 2009 (1:04 pm)
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Replying to: gonogo (Nov 05, 2009 9:08 am)

What type of roads do you frequent?
Are not the bushing separate from the rack?
How were the inner and outer tie rod ends?
I think he is saying he now has problem on driver side. Usually problems develop on the passenger side first.
#153 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [e_net_rider] by gonogo
Nov 06, 2009 (10:12 am)
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Nov 05, 2009 1:04 pm)

Only paved roads. The rack bushings are not replaceable, only new rack. Inner and outer tie rods were both good, no wear. On inspection they thought it was worn inner tie rod because of the play, wish it was, rack $329.
I have a pickup truck for gravel roads.
#154 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [gonogo] by e_net_rider
Nov 06, 2009 (1:53 pm)
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Replying to: gonogo (Nov 06, 2009 10:12 am)

Ouch! Usually such a component should last a very long time. Is it possible some petroleum product got on it and caused it to deteriorate?
#155 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [e_net_rider] by gonogo
Nov 07, 2009 (9:15 am)
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Replying to: e_net_rider (Nov 06, 2009 1:53 pm)

No, poor design. They made changes when they kept coming back, they remanufacture the racks for service.
I looked at mine with the passenger side boot off, no lube whatsoever where the shaft went through the bushing. The shaft would rock side to side.
The rack is mechanical, only lube is at manufacture.
#156 of 156
Re: Front Wheel Play [gonogo] by e_net_rider
Dec 05, 2009 (6:37 am)
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Replying to: gonogo (Nov 07, 2009 9:15 am)

It seems I may have misunderstood the problem. Some vehicles have the rack mounted in hard rubber bushings that are clamped to frame or firewall. After reviewing, it seems you are referring to bushings that are located at the output shafts.

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