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wheel noise

5K views 28 replies 4 participants last post by  Vlad_Padberg 
#1 ·
91 escort GT has a lot of humming coming from the wheels... Im not sure if it's tire noise or what. Im hoping its not bad bearings or a bad spindle/axle... any known issues, or suggestions to narrow it down.
 
#5 ·
What kind of noise would this make? Are you sure that size is too big for a 91GT which is redisgned from the gen1 87/88/89 that you have? I would be REALLY happy if this is the case. Also, would this do any serioius damage to the strut and/or the tire?
 
#6 ·
well let me ask this. Does it happen all the time or when you are turning?

Go look at the insides of your wheels if you have any substantial amount of driving on them you will see that the inner portions have worn or have a wear pattern from where it rubbed. That would be the easiest way to check them.
 
#7 ·
I can't tell... I just bought the car, so the tires could be from anything. The manual says that the regular escort should run a 175/60 r15 not 165 and the GT should run a 185/60 r15 and I have 195. It is a constant noise, but I can't tell if it's more when I turn (because the exhaust is being replaced too) or if there is wear because the tires are new. I can see, though that without anyone in the car, I can see the bottom plate of the spring (is it the strut?) is VERY close to the tire and if there was play of about 1" it would rub. I assume my weight makes it drop that inch.
 
#13 ·
Its the GT, and they're different. I put the thing up on a lift today and got my first real look at the underside. I need to replace my entire exhaust system to the tune of $380.00 because some bonhead put a rigid pipe from the manifold to the catalytic converter, and it is supposed to be flexible... so it broke a bunch of joints. There is a little bit of dirt & some oil I was concerned with, but nothing major by any means. I also isolated the noise to just the left front and am now about 80% certain it's a wheel bearing, so that will not be cheap either, but making a $1000 car into a $2000 car that I could sell for $4000 or drive for 5 years isn't a bad thing.
 
#22 ·
Yeah, Im really confused now. The car is SO quiet with the new exhaust system. The place that put the pipes on also replaces front ends, etc., and they looked at it for me and said there was nothing wrong. I had taken it to a CAR X to compare estimates, and the guy there said it was a bearing, but he didn't speak much english. I can definitely hear something, but I can't discern what it is. When I am going interstate speeds, I can feel it a little too when I turn. When I start to move the wheel it's smooth, and then I feel a slight vibration through the wheel (the wheel isn't moving, but I can feel it through the wheel in my hands)... and it is really slight. It may just be connecting the noise with the power steering kicking in too, so I'm really at a loss. I'm having recall work done on it tomorrow at a dealer, and they said theyd look, but I don't think I can trust a dealer. It almost sounds like the parking brake rubbing a little or something, but I would think that would be a noise from the rear. The hand brake doesn't work when I pull it, nor does the light go on, so it's broken (usually the light still comes on), and I suppose it could be the culpret, but I doubt it.
 
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