Front Suspension Issue?

[LarryD]

So, my car is the 2010 2SS LS3 and Manual Transmission. I have been hearing kind of a high pitched howl for some time but unable to locate it. Thinking it may be a front end wheel bearing, I lifted the front off the ground to do an oil change and while it was up I tried to check for wheel bearing play. Didn't find any but instead I found that I could wiggle the front wheels left and right. They both move together (wouldn't expect them to move at all) and I hear a bit of a tapping sound at the end of the motion like something hitting a bracket hitting somewhere. The wheels were pointed straight ahead. I don't see any linkage movement but I do see the struts rotating a little with the movement back and forth. The car just turned over 100,000 miles yesterday. Anybody have any ideas as to what the sound is and if the little bit of motion back and forth (maybe a quarter inch) could be??? Thanks..

[gtstorey]

Power steering racks don't typically lock wheels to no movement side to side so does seem likely to be the problem. More of a problem of one wheel moved and the other didn't. You didn't say anything about under what conditions you are getting the howl, but maybe engine accessory bearing?

[LarryD]

I am old school so don't know much about steering racks. Both wheels move the same wiggling either wheel. The steering seems fine but maybe a little pull to the left. I did notice I have some tire wear looking like I might need an alignment.

The howl sounds like speed related and noticeable as soon as I start driving. I didn't think about an engine accessory bearing. The AC compressor was replaced about 10k ago so I doubt it would be that. I will get a probe and check for noisy bearings on the other accessories.

Thanks.

[morepowerjoe]

I found that when I jack up my front end and wiggle the tires side to side, I get the same sound coming from my steering as well but I discovered it was just the joint in the steering linkage on the shaft that goes to the steering wheel, so I think you're ok there. I have put 170k miles on my wheel bearings without a problem but that's not to say that your environment couldn't be harsher than mine.

[Mouse330]

The howl sounds like speed related and noticeable as soon as I start driving.
[/QUOTE]

If you only start hearing the noise once you start moving its not engine related, You would start hearing the noise after you started the engine just sitting there. Jack up the front with the wheels off the ground and spin up the wheels by hand and listen to the bearings. GL

[102SS]

Mine howled like hell and when they were changed all was well

It was also hard to define where the noise was coming from.