1999 Sunfire SE 4 Dr 2.2 Noise turning left

[ve3sjk]

Hello

I have a 99 sunfire with what sounds like a grinding noise comming out to the passenger front when turning left. The noise gets more pronounced after a longer drive, and can be heard when just bringing the steering wheel off center to the left,it really gets loud in full left turns although it will disappear in a left turn if you take the foot off the accelerator and is not there when banking to the right on a road.

I have replaced the front brakes, the passenger side hub assembly, the passenger side drive axil assembly including the CV joints and the noise remains. The car will not make the noise if its raised, and with the wheels moving raised the mechanic cannot find it with a stethscope while moving to both left and right steering limits.

The mechanic has checked with a pry bar the upper and lower ball joints, engine mounts, lower control arm bushing and cannot find a single thing loose, the car drives smooth past 120km with no steering wheel vibrations at all, it will drive perfectly straight if you take your hands of the steering wheel.

My mechanic is stumped and I am just about out of cash has anyone ever ran it to this problem with the 99 Sunfire 4 Dr. 2.2 or should i get a louder radio and a subwoofer to drown out the noise.

 

[melsg5]

Check the front sway bar bushings and links for wear

 

[VettesRKing]

My 1996 2.2Ltr does the exact same thing,,I also changed the passenger side hub assembly and thought at first that if fixed the issue but after driving it on the highway the next day to work found that it was doing the same thing..Have you had any luck lately in diagnosing the problem?
Cheers folks

 

[melsg5]

Is your problem only on the highway when driving straight?

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[VettesRKing]

The sound is definitely more pronounced on the highway,,starts at about 80 km. Definitely louder when turning left.. If I'm in the slow lane its real bad,,in the fast lane not so much,,I guess you turn the wheel ever so slightly to the opposite direction when in each lane,,quite the difference in the sound...Very frustrating.
Sorry not trying to hijack your thread here,,just seems like these two cars are having the same problem!!

 

[melsg5]

Have you had the CV joints checked?

 

[VettesRKing]

Thats next!!!Might get to it this weekend but heading to a big Corvette show in Puyallup Washington so hope to have time!!
Thanks for the input,,much appreciated

 

[melsg5]

a corvette show in the winter,in Washington, I could see Florida, thats unusual!

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[LeoVG]

You said it gets louder when turning left ? does it lessen when taking a right hand curve at hiway speed ? My '03 had the same problem. New wheel bearing assemblies & the problem is gone.