Hey guys, possibly a dumb one but i have a squeak on my 78 Malibu that starts around 15 or 20 mph and increases with vehicle speed. Doesn’t get louder, just faster. Doesn’t appear to be driveline related (does it in neutral) or brake related (pumping brakes doesn’t affect it). Just wondering if anyone has any insight. Will be pulling wheels this weekend looking for clues.
Front end squeak
- Thread starter Baker7888
- Start date
My mistake... i meant the wheel bearings in the rotor that ride on the steering knuckle, they could use repacking or need replacement, depending on condition.
Best to wipe away all the wheel bearing grease, check the condition of the bearings and race, look for any loosness, excessive wear or pitting, if everything looks satifactory to you, repack the bearings thoroughly with high temp bearing grease. Lightly tighten the castlenut till theres a slight drag on the rotor and theres zero back and forth play, then line up the hole in the steering knuckle and castlenut, use a cotter pin and bend the open ends around the nut itself to lock the nut into place.
check drive shaft u joints ? you said in neutral when you are rolling 20 mph ?
Alternator bushing, waterpump impeller shaft bushing, Power steering front pulley bushing, pretty much anything that spins when the engine is running and the vehicle is moving can be a source of an intermittent chirp or squeak. Could even be something as odd as a worn out shock absorber upper shaft mounting rubber biscuit or one of the bushings in the upper or lower control arms, although these two not so much if the noise occurs even with the vehicle in neutral or idling.
Nick
Nick
Have to remember in neutral but still rolling and increasing with speed but not brake related. Any of the wheel bearings or u-joints. Unless it’s a bent backing plate rubbing a high spot on docs or drums.
My head started going in the same direction Nick until I reread it.
Wheel bearing grease seemed to do it. I didnt have time to go for a long ride but a quick rip around town and I didnt hear anything. They are fairly new and I installed them only a couple seasons ago which is why I suspected it may be something else.
If you were deep enough down the rabbit hole to regrease the bearings, I hope you had a "while I'm there moment" and replaced the inner bearing seals. Those skinny little metal and rubber condoms are all that protect the bearing rollers from crap, crud, water, oil, sand, salt, and assorted other contaminants that constitute their life space. They are a cheap date from a price point of view and a good investment when it comes to peace of mind. JUst me,
Nick
Nick
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