Vibration when turning left

[Dave]

Hello GAOC!

What an awesome forum. I have a problem with my 96 Grand Am that has me stumped. When I turn the steering wheel left, I get a loud vibration that I can feel. At first, I thought it was the CV joint but when I put it on the lift there was no leakage and the boot was in great shape. It's not really consistent of the "clicking" of a bad CV joint either. Any one had this problem before???? Any help out there??? Thanks.

[4kQuad]

Get the tire causing problems up in the air, with the car safely supported.

Grab the front tire at 9 and 3 oclock, now push pull, try to wiggle the tire. if you get a lot of movement there is most likely front strearing linkage problems. ( tie rod, ball joints, etc)

if that is solid...

Grab the tire at 12 and 6 again try to wiggle it, if you get much movement then the Bearing is most likely on it way out. Also it may be hot, after driving a ways when you get out out your hand down near the middle of the wheel where the bearing would be...Do you feel a lot of heat. heat would mean bad bearing.

It could be sruts/mounts and other things, just the above is a free check and not too hard to do. Just block it up good. When cars fall people break.

[Dave]

Any one else have comments on this????

[Old Guy]

If you do 4K Quad says and there's no problem it could be something as simple as an alignment problem.

[true_cal]

Heat is also caused by braking, so diagnosing the bearing as faulty due to heat is not accurate, it may only suggest your rotors are getting bad and need replacing (as the vents rust, their ability to dissipate heat decreases, thus causing lots of heat!)

.... 4k quad is accurate with the bearing diagnosis ( 9 & 3 , 12 & 6 ) ....

however other problems could be the cause, rubber bushings .. including ball joints!!! (check all bushings for excessive wear) ...strut can be finished ( it acts as a upper control arm on MacPhearson suspensions, thus pivoting) ...also check sway bar linkage.
Good luck!