2006 Front End Noisy and Failing. What's Up?

[Sock Monkey]

OK, got an '06 Madza 3 with 300,000 on it. It's been a great car. I think I've replaced the brakes 3 or 4 times. Front axles twice and bearings once. It's not all that hard working on this stuff so that's nice and it's not all that expensive. So now the front end is howling. Growling. I THINK it may be the CV axles again. It may also be the bearings. It's directly related to vehicle speed not engine speed. If I'm driving in a parking lot or along a nice wide road I can make a pretty tight swerve to the left and the noise stops momentarily. Not so on the right side. There is a good deal of lash in the drive train too. If I let off the gas and coast for a bit, step on the gas again there's a very noticeable CLUNK as the lash is taken up. Axles? Oh, the steering wheel wiggles side to side while driving. The whining also gets louder (really loud) at different speeds as the vibration frequency changes. It's bad at 30kmh, bad at 120kmh.

Depending on what I hear from you folks, I will make my decision though I think it's axles. An important question though. At 300k, if I replace the axles, should I replace the stub shaft on the passenger side? It comes out of the transfer case, terminates in a steady bearing if I remember correctly and then receives the right axle. I've never replaced that and would it be worth doing now?

Thanks for any help.

Monkey.

[Shawn]

Does the whine change depending on left or right high on ramp. Temperature gun can also show a bearing overheating.

[Sock Monkey]

Not sure I follow your question Shawn. High On Ramp? Good idea about the temp. gun. I'll try that the next time I have it out.

[Shawn]

Let me try? So if you go on to highway on ramp turning right, the left bearing will make more noise, or was it get quieter. Opposite for a left turning ramp, right bearing will indicate with different sound. ?

[Sock Monkey]

Well, I'm inclined to think it's not bearings. So, to answer your question, the noise always comes from the front left side of the vehicle. Make a sharp veer to the left, it quiets down. Veer to the right, no difference in noise.

I just got the car up on the jack to wiggle the wheels. With the entire left side of vehicle off the ground, both passenger side wheels on the ground, I can rotate the wheel so it's surface travels 2". You know, rotate the wheel forward so it reaches it's max rotation, make a mark, rotate it backwards the the surface will move 2" (tranny in park of course). Sit on the ground outside the wheel, try to wiggle it back and forth (as if steering) and there is no slack. Try to wiggle it up and down, pulling the bottom towards yourself and pushing the top in and there is a bit of play. Look under the car while doing this and the lower ball joint attached to the end of the lower control arm has a BIT of play in it. I think this indicates two different issues. I replaced those control arms a couple of years ago.

So, now jack up the passenger's side and try the same maneuvers on the wheel. Same 2 surface inches of rotational play but on this side the ball joint seems OK and there is no side to side play. I'm thinking CV joints (axles).