1997 Geo Prizm

1997 GEO PRIZM
181,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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TNWILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
About three weeks ago, the wheel barrings broke and I had them replaced. The car was running fine until a week ago when it started making a noise that it was making before I had the barrings replaced.

It sounds like the noise is coming from the front end. The noise is a loud humming noise that gets louder when you turn the wheel; I had to have the wheel turned slightly to the right to go straight. This sound reminds of the sound when driving on gravel.

What is wrong with my car???
Jun 10, 2009 at 5:43 PM
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MMPRINCE4000
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 8,548 POSTS
Raise car, put on stands. Grasp tire and push/pull both horizontally and vertically, if any movement then possible wheel bearing, ball joint, tie rod, control arm bushing.

Check CV boots for any signs of leakage or cuts/rips in rubber boot.

Wheel bearings are pressed in and if done incorrectly, can fail quickly, but do the above, it may also be a CV joint.

The car should also be aligned, because the knuckle must be removed to install bearings, and they can very rarely get camber and toe back to correct specs.
Jun 11, 2009 at 7:18 AM