Chris_924s

This is why Rennlist is great. Learn something new every day. Thanks Oddjob!

Z-man

A simple test to see if the front wheel bearings are shot is this:

1. Jack up the car so the front wheel is off the ground.
2. Put your finger on the spring behind the wheel.
3. Turn the wheel with your other hand.

If you feel a vibration on the spring, then your wheel bearings are going or already bad. (Check both sides of the car - if one wheel bearing is bad, you should feel the difference)

The way our front wheel bearings are designed is that they keep the grease in. However, since they aren't a 'sealed' unit, water can work its way into the bearings. Driving through floods, or even going to a car wash and having the underbody "water blast" can result in water working its way into the bearing. Last year, I replaced my front wheel bearings due to a vibration I felt through the steering wheel when turing left - you could see rust on the racers, especially on the right side.

If dirt, sand, debris work their way into the CV joint, it can cause the bearings to score the outer shell of the CV, or it can even cause the cage to break. As pointed out above, heat can also cause the grease to deteriorate and make a CV joint go bad. This occurs more often on the driver inner CV due to the location of the exhaust right above the CV.

Bear wheel bearings and CV joints can result in loss of control of your car. If there's a problem, don't delay in getting it looked at or replaced.

As you may have guessed, I've BTDT a couple of times with these components.
-Z.

APKhaos

Does your S2 have the turbo transmission oil cooler loop?
If not, ignore all this.

If so, then its possible for highway [or racetrack] debris to bend the rear section of the loop into near contact with the bodywork. There's not much clearance to being with, so it does not take much of a hit. Happened to me on track, and sounded so bad in every hard left corner that I hit the pits to find out what had broken!

wjk_glynn

I had that exact problem with my S2. Turned out to be a broken exhaust hanger. Cost me a bit over $100 (parts & labor) to repiar.

Karl.

AndyK

I was complaining about driveline grinding noises. My mechanic went over all the heat shields and exhaust...you would think he would spot a broken exhaust hanger? I'll have to check when I have my car on stands to do my rotors. If you want something done right....

tomrc

My exhaust was vibrating on the rear sway bar during acceleration and hard turns. Drove me nuts since I had just done the rear wheel bearings. A friend pointed out that he saw paint rubbing off the sway bar near where the exhaust goes over it. I loosened all the bolts on the exhaust and re-adjusted it, tightened everything up and no more noise.

Jfrahm

I have something like this on my 1990 S2 but it's more of a shake, like the car is driving over railroad tracks. Usually I feel it when turning left and giving it a good bit of throttle. No tire rubbing.

Any ideas? Binding CV joint?
-Joel.

jason952

when you have the rear of the car up off the ground, before you remove the wheels, grap the tire at the top and bottom and compare it side to side, more play could be the wheel bearing. failing bearing also change the way the rotor orients to the caliper and can score the rotor, which is another tip off. I have had this same failure 3 times before I got it fixed right.

AndyK

The possibilities are endless! For all I know, it could be the rear hatch, flexing during a turn, and rattling in a strange way.

Jfrahm

No rear hatch :-) Cabriolet.

I'll, um, 'run some more tests.'

-Joel.

bjzorn

So we are all in the same boat, and highway speeds(50-70 MPH) I hear a griding noise like a bearing going out, but it only does it under load(Anytime I have my foot on the gas) if I let off the gas it goes away, At first I though it was the new rebuilt waterpump I put in but I didn't hear it at idle or below 50MPH. I guess i find out what it is tommorrow. when I do the exhaust

Brandon

AZS2

I have the exact same problem in my S2. Hard left on the gas, sounds like a tire rubbing. I've never been able to pinpoint the location, but it seems like the right rear also.

Justin S2

I have had this problem since last June. Grinding/vibration sound at 1500RPM and 2800-3200RPM. It sounds like the exhaust but I removed it this year when I pulled the engine and rebuilt the Torque Tube. Maybe something isn't quite aligned on the exhaust system properly? I somehow doubt it would be the wheel bearings because it is not speed specific (ONLY RPM) and I also repacked my CV Joints last year. Has anyone had this problem and successfully solved it?