Grinding Noise

[wiccanferret]

I've noticed an odd grinding noise that comes from the front right when you really gun the car from little to no speed. It does not do it while in neutral, so it's not the motor itself. And it does not do it at higher speeds. The bottom of the car as been checked out...my mechanic and I both went under the car and smacked the crap out of everything to try and get some sort of shifting sound...but everything looks good. Sometimes the noise dissapears for a few days then comes back. One suggestion that I didn't like was that it was the low gear going out. That would explain why it only does it at lower speeds. This noise can get fairly loud from time to time, and when the car bounces after you hit bumps the noise gets louder as the car comes down and all but dissapears as it comes back up. Sounds like suspension to me, but we couldn't find anything. Strut mounts are new, struts are fine. Any suggestions?

[SpecialFX]

I can't offer any help, but that sounds similar to what I noticed since I got new swaybars last week.

[4kQuad]

Next time you go out to the car grab the front wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock. Push and then pull on the tire try to make it move. It should be as tight as the back wheel when you do that to it. If you are getting much movement I would guess there is stearing linkage going bad.

Sway bar, tie rod, ect........

[wiccanferret]

Without the car cranked, right?

[Toyguyz]

Check to see if the bracket - bushing mount that holds the drive axle on that side of the car has loose bolts... If the bracket is loose it can allow the axle to shift around and would show up under load or when bumps are driven over and give off sounds and some vibration that will vary under load and when shifting.

[wiccanferret]

No loose bolts. Nothing loose underneath the car at all.

[4kQuad]

No with the car off.
That way there is no chance of power assist messing with your findings.

Toyguyz has a few good points also.