[trailblazer124]

I have an 03 trailblazer. I had alot of front end noise and vibration in the pedal and steering wheel. I had an alignment done. No change. I then replaced the driver side front wheel bearing. Just a few weeks later and the noise is still there. ALl indications are that it is from the bearing I just replaced. There is a loud hum going straight or turning left but a right hand turn and no sound. Now my 2 questions....

1)I bought the wheel bearing cheap (40 bucks) from am-autoparts.com. Is it possible they sell crap bearings and I really do need to replace it again already? Anyone knwo about the qulaity of their parts.

2). WHen I had my alignment done, the stealership told me that they could not align it properly because my front struts are shot. They quoted me 500 bucks to replace them. I have never heard of that affecting an alignment but i need new tires and dont want them to wear unevenly. Any opinions on this> Can I replace them if you think they should be.....

THanks for any advice

 

[Ray Dockrey]

The struts have nothing to do with the alignment. They lied to you. Ours is more of a coil over shock setup on the front. It is all one contained unit and does not tie into any parts that has to do with the alignment.

It seems like on the Trailblazer family that when turning it puts pressure on the opposite side as it loads that side. So if you turn left and you hear noise my guess would be the passenger side needs replaced.

 

[trailblazer124]

Additional info

I attached the printout from the stealership for the alignment. WHat do all these numbers mean. Why are some off so much?

 

[ylab]

Did they even attempt to align it? - With that much negative camber on the right side, you'll wear the inside of the tire and the truck should pull pretty badly going down the highway. (Negative camber leans the tire inward at the top, positive pushes it outward). Our trucks are spec'd at -0.5 +/- .5 degrees of camber, so we want a little negative camber, but not nearly two degrees worth.

Who did you bring it to, was it a dealer that works on our model truck regularly? Many vehicles on the road have no camber adjustment, if it's off, there's something worn or bent.....my wife's Nissan is a prime example. If camber is off, you start replacing things, strut, then control arm. Our trucks however have a good amount of adjustment built into the design, you loosen the three bolts on the ower control arm bracket and pry it into submission.

If you're at the limit or maxed out, then there is something's worn or bent. Seeing that your about a year newer than mine, common things that need to be checked due to aging are: Upper & Lower ball-joints, lower control arm to frame bushings and outer tie-rod ends. After 10 years, the rubber boots may be rotted, which allows dirt/moisture to enter and corrode the components. The front shocks, as stated above, DO NOT affect alignment. - They could result or contribute to a bouncey ride and cause culping on the tires, but that's about it.

You can also replace the fronts a lot cheaper than $500, hell you can buy two Monroe Quick-Struts for around $300 and do it youself with a mere socket set and hammer and not need to worry about a spring compressor and such. (Quick struts are a strut, spring and top-assembly assembled and ready to install into the vehicle).

It's also worth noting that if the replacement bearing is bad, which is possible, it may be throwing the alignment out. My experience on some of the 'cheap' suspension components from Advance-Auto and others hasn't been glowing. The parts branded as "OE Parts" many times don't survise a drive to the shop for an alignment. My brother's a Ford Mastertech and has mentioned that some of those cheap 3rd party parts have come back and bit him on the back side as well. So to answer your question, yes it is possible the replacement could be bad.

 

[NJTB04]

If I remember correctly, those front wheel bearings are double row.
What that means is if you make a turn and the noise gets louder, it's not necessarily the bearing on the loaded side. It's not like the wheel bearings you could pack with grease.
If you're ABSOLUTELY sure it's a bearing noise, and you've got a new bearing in one side, put the OLD one in the side you didn't replace.
I know it's a pain, but I had a '97 Blazer that did the same thing. Replaced it in the driveway, in the snow, twice.

 

[ylab]

Before doing that, I'd check the bearing that came off. - It should spin freely without any rumble/vibration when you turn it. If you can 'feel' any vibration or it doesn't spin smoothly, the bearing is bad. They usually don't fail in pairs, but it is possible. Did the noise itself change when the bearing was replaced....I was under the impression the noise went away and then returned a few weeks later. (Which is why I brought up the low quality of some of the parts out there).

Regardless, there's still a pretty bad alignment issue that needs to be addressed before kills the front tires.

If you're ABSOLUTELY sure it's a bearing noise, and you've got a new bearing in one side, put the OLD one in the side you didn't replace.
I know it's a pain, but I had a '97 Blazer that did the same thing. Replaced it in the driveway, in the snow, twice.

 

[trailblazer124]

Following up guys

You guys rock! I wish I could offer more advice more often instead of asking for it. As far as alignment is concerned, I took it to Monro and they forgot to tighten the front end bolts after it was aligned and I nearly rolled the truck over on the highway. After having it towed to my own mechanic and having it tightened (they dont do alignments) I took it to the stealership where I bought it (not a chevy dealer but a generic used car dealer). They "aligned" it and gave me the printout I posted here. I am into working on my own vehicle and like things right. Alignments you are at the mercy of someone with a machine sadly...So, I know this isnt right but I am not sure why the heck the camber and caster is off that bad. I knew that it wouldnt be the front struts....Even if they are bad that would only affect ride and handling not alignment.

As far as that damn noise goes, it is a high pitched hum that gets louder and louder as the speed goes up along with a vibration feeling in the wheel and pedal. It really startts to get annoying around 40 and I need to turn the stereo up once I hit 65. It completely disappears while changing lanes from left to righ but gets a bit worse when changing lanes the opposite way. I thought the noie as better right after replacing teh dreiver side bearing but I cant be certain as if i recall it was still somewhat there. I just assumed the new part was like that. I jacked up the truck today and I noticed that when spinning the driver side front tire it has some resistance, it will spin but stops rather quickly. The passenger side front spins freely but i hear a slight clicking sound as the wheel spins. I am going out to take a few pics of the tires for you guys now to post.....The passenger side front tire looks like it sits "off" as compared to the right and the driver rear tire (which prior to rotation was on the passenger front) is very worn on the inside treads. Stand by for pics . THank you so much again for the advice.,

 

[trailblazer124]

tire pics and tread wear

Notice how off the passenger side front looks to me compare to the drivers side front.

Also why did the tire wear like that

 

[ylab]

Matches that alignment sheet, the passenger (right) side has more negative camber, which leans it inwards at the top (outward at the bottom). The inner tire edge wear is a classic result of too much negative camber (or excessive toe-out).

The alignment bracket on the passenger side needs to be loosened and LCA pushed inwards a bit. We need a little negative camber, just not as much as you have. This is of course assuming that there aren't any suspension parts that need to be replaced causing the alignment issue.

Perfectly strait up and down with no tilt inward or outward is zero camber, inward at the top is negative, outward is positive. (Reverse for what the bottom does). Think of camber as a see-saw between the top of the tire and the bottom, with the balance point the center bearing. You push one in and the other comes outwards. Your see-saw is too far out of balance.

 

[hannahsdad]

as far as wheel hub assembly..turning left loads the right side hub..if the noise is present when turning left.. its the right hub assembly that needs to be replaced..and vice versa..just went thru it..piece of cake as long as you have the right tools..bearings are sealed. so how did you replace them?.unless your 03 is different from my 04..

 

[205tburner]

I just had the same problem over the wkend and I replaced the driver side wheel bearing but the noise still occured. I later found out it was the passenger side. The sound felt like it was the driver side thats why I did that side. So I would replace the oppisite side than the one you replced

 

[lostjedi71]

Roaring noise with vibration felt in steering wheel

When my 02 TB (112K, 2 WD) gets up to 40 mph, I hear a roaring noise and feel vibration in the steering. The noise is not constant like a wheel bearing. I have already replaced both front wheel bearings (twice on left side). Its more of a throbbing sound (if that makes sense).

I don't think its the alignment becaue there is no pull either left or right when going down a straight road. I have rotated the tires with no change.

I have replaced the clutch fan two years ago.

Any ideas would be great.

Thanks,

 

[trailblazer124]

Check your transfer case and differential fluid levels

 

[lostjedi71]

Do you mean rear differential fluid? I don't have 4 WD. And I think the noise and vibration is coming from the front end.

 

[06Tblazerext]

Have you always owned the vehicle or buy it used? it looks may just be me like its been involved in a colision once before. the passenger headlight looks to be newer and more clear. if used did you check car fax?

 

[lostjedi71]

I bought it 1 year old with 27K miles from the local chevy dealer. I have never been in an accident (knock on wood) and the dealer claims no accidents happened prior to my purchase.....But I have wondered for a long time if they lied to me.

I have had to replace a lot of things over the years. I have spent about $3500 over the last 3 years fixing various things with < 100K miles. Thanks to this site, I have been able to do several of the last few fixes myself. I just don't understand what the latest problem is.

I hate driving it with that roaring / grinding sound. It makes me feel like I am abusing the car. I may have to end up taking it to NTB.

Thanks,

 

[marybeth1972]

noise while turning right

Hi fellas. Sorry to hijack your post but.....I am having noise while turning right. took to the dealership and they said my rotors were rusty and needed to be replaced. SO....did them myself today. Well, no avail. Still same noise when turning right. So if I understand what you all have been saying here....The left side wheel bearings are bad? Even though the noise is coming from the right? Should I take it to be aligned first to see if my cambers are off?

I appreciate your responses!
04 TB 4WD

 

[astro]

Hi to all comunity of trailvol
I'm have a 2002 trailblazer LT 4x4 this is a good suv for me.
I,m join the comunity to learn more, to fix my problems fallow with
with the comments that it will see here , i'm do my own maintenance and
repair when i'm have the tools
thanks for any help from us comunity
Astro

 

[Jeff60_m]

02 4wd making noise with slight left wheel pressure

Hi All, I'm following this thread because my problem appears the same. Growling noise when slight left pressure applied to wheel. New struts and tires recently. Have replaced wheel bearings in the past. First instinct was to replace the right side bearing again which I did. The noise is still there. I've now been thinking possible CV issue. Question is is this like the wheel bearing? Noise left, cv right side. Or will it be where it seems on the left. Also some info. The bearing I removed seemed to be fine to me. I may try reinstalling this on the left side. Anybody have any ideas on this? Thanks in advance.

 

[rolla45]

Fellas I don't post much but you all have help me out s lot. have only a small iPhone .

Similar trouble as this old thread . Hope someone can help,


I have a vibration in a 2004 envoy 4wd. Feel it thru steering - no bad but was there before and shouldn't be there. Hear slight noise / almost like a light rumble strip.
It seemed louder when turning right so I replaced left wheel hub assembly with new Timken ( 108k miles ) Still there. Still slightly louder on right turning.
Put spare tire on left thinking I may have tire delaminating- still there.
Changed transfer case fluid still there.
In doing fluid, I drain out while doing the wheel work,so it was on jack stands, was only able to put in one quart before overflow. So lowered car to normal And checked level, it is ok.
I did note when I had wheel off that upon spining it I heard slight sound from transfer case.

Any help would really be appreciated, as I got to do some highway traveling and at this time am afraid to.

Thanks

Denny