Changed steering linkage and added wheel spacers, now theres a noise.

[Jason's Mojave]

Hello all, I recently was chasing a front end noise and found that my drag link and tie rod end was bad. I changed did a drag bar and tie rod change and I had to add 2inch wheel spacers. Now I have a slight growl or grinding sound at very slow speeds from my drivers side front. It seems to occur during harder braking. I have not had a chance to get it aligned yet, but that is coming later this week. My question is, does this sound like a wheel bearing that is starting to fail? Did the spacer put enough strain on the hub to point out early signs of failure? I checked the rotor dust shield and it is good. All brake components are tight. It doesnt make noise at high speeds while driving or braking. Trying to figure out this annoying noise that only seems to occur at slow speeds. Thoughts?

Sponsored

 

[liquidobsession]

Yes. Jack it up and spin the tire fast and see if it sounds like marbles on a rough surface. It may be faint. If so the wheel bearing is bad.

 

[JTenn]

Hello all, I recently was chasing a front end noise and found that my drag link and tie rod end was bad. I changed did a drag bar and tie rod change and I had to add 2inch wheel spacers. Now I have a slight growl or grinding sound at very slow speeds from my drivers side front. It seems to occur during harder braking. I have not had a chance to get it aligned yet, but that is coming later this week. My question is, does this sound like a wheel bearing that is starting to fail? Did the spacer put enough strain on the hub to point out early signs of failure? I checked the rotor dust shield and it is good. All brake components are tight. It doesnt make noise at high speeds while driving or braking. Trying to figure out this annoying noise that only seems to occur at slow speeds. Thoughts?

Your post says "had" to add spacers. Why did you have to add spacers? Was there an interference with something? What diameter wheels do you have? Im wondering if your new tie rod or drag link ends are contacting the inside of the wheel. Also, is the noise while turning or in a straight line?

 

[Jason's Mojave]

I had to add spacers to allow for proper clearance of the new steering components. I have stock 17" wheels and the steering kit i bought required larger wheels or the use of spacers. I checked for proper clearance, and everything has plenty of room to move. If I think back, I remember hearing the noise before I changed out parts and added the spacers, but I just thought is was cold shocks creaking or the drag link clunking. It seems to come and go, but does happen often. As far as occurring in a straight line or when turning, it doesnt seem to matter. I notice is during both.

I am leaning towards it being a bearing early signs of failure because it only seems to happen while slowing down when the bearing is under extra load. I dont think the bearing has completely failed yet, but it is getting close.

 

[tysongladiator]

I would advise you to check more than the front. Sound will travel throughout the suspension and frame. I had the same issues once and thought it was a bad bearing. It sounded very loud on the front end and right from the driver's side. I pulled the bearings and threw on my other set. I've owned this jeep since 2019 and I have a lot of spare parts. Anyway, still had the noise.

The sound got worse and louder over time. I finally decided that I couldn't take it anymore. I put a set of cameras underneath my jeep and it turns out it was my rear pinion bearing. There is a fault in the factory ball bearing design. There have been a couple others with the same issue. The fix is a roller bearing from Timkin.

Not saying yours is the same reason, but it's worth taking a look. I spent a lot of time troubleshooting and diagnosing the front suspension and other components and it wasn't there. Even had a couple mechanics stumped.

 

[Jason's Mojave]

Wow! Thanks Tyson. That was very helpful. I will check it out.

 

[DiehardTory]

 

[tysongladiator]

Wow! Thanks Tyson. That was very helpful. I will check it out.

You're welcome. I actually hope that's not your problem and it's something simpler and cheaper. Keep us updated.

Good luck!

 

[Jason's Mojave]

I jacked it up and spun the drivers side. It makes this sound, but does not the passenger side. What is it?

Sponsored