Hello everyone,
My front driver's side has some play at 12 and 6 and none at 9 and 3. No play at the ball joint. At first I thought it was the wheel bearings. I repacked and tighten per manual instruction but it didn't help. So I decided to change out new bearings. Same thing again. still some play at 12 and 6. Driving is ok. No vibration at any speed. But there is a faint tire noise at slow speed..."woop, woop, woop." Thanks, guys.
2002 Pathfinder LE front wheel issue
-
atraudes
- Posts: 1106
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:46 pm
- Car: 2001.5 Infiniti QX4 4WD
- Location: Sammamish, WA
Re: 2002 Pathfinder LE front wheel issue
I believe the tire noise you're hearing is either the brakes dragging or unevenness in your tires. Assuming you did the bearing work properly, play in the tire at 12 and 6 means ball joint. If that's the case, take care of it now. If you've never replaced them it's due anyway.
Some things you can also take a look at to cover your bases:
- Take a look at the lower control arm bushings and see if they're loose at all.
- Make sure the big bolts connecting the strut to the knuckle are tight and that area doesn't have any play.
- Check the nuts at the top of the strut (the three attaching it to the body and the one at the top of the strut rod).
- Check the nuts connecting the ball joint to the arm.
The tightening procedure for the bearings once you have them installed is to torque down the wheel bearing lock nut as much as you can, spin the wheel a few times in either direction, back the lock nut off and then only torque it down a ft-lb or two. If you're nodding and saying yeah, checked that and did that, get a new ball joint. I always recommend Proforged.
Some things you can also take a look at to cover your bases:
- Take a look at the lower control arm bushings and see if they're loose at all.
- Make sure the big bolts connecting the strut to the knuckle are tight and that area doesn't have any play.
- Check the nuts at the top of the strut (the three attaching it to the body and the one at the top of the strut rod).
- Check the nuts connecting the ball joint to the arm.
The tightening procedure for the bearings once you have them installed is to torque down the wheel bearing lock nut as much as you can, spin the wheel a few times in either direction, back the lock nut off and then only torque it down a ft-lb or two. If you're nodding and saying yeah, checked that and did that, get a new ball joint. I always recommend Proforged.
Re: 2002 Pathfinder LE front wheel issue
Thanks, atraudes. The only movement I see is the wheel and the cv axle at 12 and 6 when I wiggle the wheel. I don't know if the needle bearing in the spindle is causing this or not. The cv axle is aftermarket installed two years ago. Everything else is fine but I will change both ball joints next month or so.
Re: 2002 Pathfinder LE front wheel issue
Did you end up replacing the needle bearing? Having a similar issue with my front passenger cv axle that makes a rubbing noise with every wheel rotation. I think it's the needle bearing because the end of the drive axle has what looks like wear marks from contact with the inside of the spindle. I'm going to repack the wheel bearings first before replacing the needle bearing (as I'd need to remove the steering knuckle assembly).