MikeN

If nothing appears to be wrong after removing the rotor, the next thing I would do is unbolt the inner CV joing from the tranny and then rotate the wheel once again. You may get different results or different sounds with both the CV joints at different angles then when the inner one is mounted.
You may now be able to tell if it is a joint or the wheel bearing.

A failed wheel bearing may or may not have symptoms other than noise. It's too bad the rear ones are pretty hard to inspect given the torque required to remove/install them.

My guess is there will be something wrong with the emergency brake system.

AO

You're going to adjust #8.

mark kibort

if its still stuck and you have the screws removed, the parking brake is released, that spring is probably jammed. wack it with a hammer a few times and see if you can feel any thing jammed inside. sometimes they just need a wacking to break some of the rusted parts free.

i still bet parking brake components is the issue.

mk

mark kibort

usually, its that single long spring. Just though of something that picture reminded me of. you can see on the inside of the hub area, if that spring has the catch poking through on the inside. if you dont see it, its broke and banging around inside
MK

Gretch

You mention a spacer on the rear hub. It is usually bolted to the hub via studs and nuts. Once those are off the spacer should come off the hub, but it is centered on the hub with a close tolerance and you may have to carefully pry it off. them You can get to the two screws holding the hat (rotor) on.....If I understood you correctly....

Chuck Z

Thanks guys,

You might be on to something with the emergency brake thing. I started the car up again with the rear wheel off and with the emergency brake engaged put the car in drive. The wheels did not move (brake held) but when I released the brake it sounded more like something hitting the rotor.

Here is what the rear spacer on a GTS looks like. Its not the same bolt on type as on the 89 GT. How do I get this bugger off?

mark kibort

i think they are long studs, and the spacer slides off, but you may have two set screws in those two holes. hard to see.

Mk.

Gretch

That is my guess......them is mighty long studs.............

If you remove the "fasteners" in those two holes (providing there are any in there, they may be locator holes, I will try to look it up in the CD manual)....and it still won't move, try a soft dead blow hammer to loosen it up. Like I said, it does fit snugly on the hub, and if the hub has rusted at all it has expanded a bit and that will make the fit even tighter. I had to pry one of my spacers off, the other one knocked off with a single whack of the deadblow........

Chuck Z

Status update:

Spacer and rotor off. Spacer came off with a couple knocks with a BFH (Thanks DR!) and a surgically inserted screwdriver The spacer was not fastened to the rotor or hub in any way.

Parking brake components all looks like it should (I think) with all springs present and in place.

I again started the car and let it idle in "Drive" and the noise was even louder than before. The noise is still present with rotor and caliper off the hub. If I had to localize the noise, I'd have to say it is coming from the front of the hub in the area of the large retaining nut. At this point, my guess would be a bearing. Is there any other way to confirm my diagnosis?

Here are some pics of my progress. This is a real learning experience for me! I love it.

jserio

Chuck, THose hub bearings may need replacing. That's the only thing I can think of.

Gretch

Yeah, and wait till you hear the technique used to loosen the hub bearing carrier nut.........

Chuck Z

Bad huh? ...................okay, how?

Chuck Z

Never mind, I'm reading it in the workshop manuals! Oh hell!

AO

Hydraulic jack and a 4 foot cheater bar IIRC.

mark kibort

sorry to hear its not the brake spring.

Let us know how the big torque wrenching goes!

someday, ill have to tackle that, and while im in there, i want to install those long studs instead of those bolt on spacers!

mk