While I had the tools out to change the spark plugs on the GP, I decided to try and diagnose a steering/suspension issue I have had since first buying the car: clunking/popping felt through the steering wheel when making slow speed right-hand turns and when bearing slightly right while at speed, such as when changing lanes on the freeway.
Based on some poking around I did online, I assumed it would be a bad wheel hub/bearing assembly or tie rod end on the front driver's side. I got the front end up on jack stands, removed both wheels and had the wife turn the steering wheel far right and left while checking out the tie rod end movement; no problem there. Next, I let the wife go back inside and I then pulled the driver's side brake caliper, but couldn't make the caliper bracket bolts budge, so I hand tightened two lug nuts to hold the brake rotor against the wheel hub (with caliper still off) and tried to wiggle it to feel for excessive play. Well, there was no play. I also turned the rotor by hand and it turned the same as the three week old bearing on the passenger side; no grinding feeling like on the bad bearing that had been replaced.
I decided at that point to give up and have my mechanic give a professional diagnosis later in the week. So the caliper and the wheels went back on. I snugged up the lugnuts by hand with a six inch rachet because I was too dirty and lazy to track down the torque specs online.
Took her for a test drive (primarily for the spark plugs) and the issue was gone! No clunk/pop at low speed or high, but a slight "catch" when first accelerating (can't think of a better description, but it's like the brakes don't fully release at first), which it has always done.
Any thought on what happened?
Based on some poking around I did online, I assumed it would be a bad wheel hub/bearing assembly or tie rod end on the front driver's side. I got the front end up on jack stands, removed both wheels and had the wife turn the steering wheel far right and left while checking out the tie rod end movement; no problem there. Next, I let the wife go back inside and I then pulled the driver's side brake caliper, but couldn't make the caliper bracket bolts budge, so I hand tightened two lug nuts to hold the brake rotor against the wheel hub (with caliper still off) and tried to wiggle it to feel for excessive play. Well, there was no play. I also turned the rotor by hand and it turned the same as the three week old bearing on the passenger side; no grinding feeling like on the bad bearing that had been replaced.
I decided at that point to give up and have my mechanic give a professional diagnosis later in the week. So the caliper and the wheels went back on. I snugged up the lugnuts by hand with a six inch rachet because I was too dirty and lazy to track down the torque specs online.
Took her for a test drive (primarily for the spark plugs) and the issue was gone! No clunk/pop at low speed or high, but a slight "catch" when first accelerating (can't think of a better description, but it's like the brakes don't fully release at first), which it has always done.
Any thought on what happened?
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