Grinding at the front wheels when turning the wheel...

[jonesm8]

Hello,

 

2010 Fusion Hybrid with almost 60k miles.

When making a turn, I hear a grinding noise from the front wheel area. It's louder when turning the right (this may not matter to the diagnosis) but I hear it turning either way. It sounds like it could be rubber or metal grinding. It prominent at slow speeds, such as turning into a parking spot but still present at hire speeds such as making a turn on to a side street. It is faster and higher pitched with speed.

 

I asked the dealer to look at it while they were rotating the tires but they said they didn't see any issue. I'm taking it in again, but I would be more than thankful if anyone has any thoughts on the issue.

[shaggy314]

Sounds joint related, CV boots if you have them...

[acdii]

If they are making noise, too late for boots. Have them looked at immediately unless you want to risk being stranded and have to call a tow truck. If one breaks, the car will not move. CV joints will make a clicking noise that increases with speed and usually is louder in one direction than the other. Grinding is a wheel bearing, and usually is a drone throughout the car.

[lolder]

Go to an area where you can make a slow turn at about 20-30 mph in each direction. If you hear it in only one turn direction and it goes away in the other, it's a wheel bearing.

[coach81]

Know nothing of cars.. but the ole Frontier used to make that same noise when she was low on power steering fluid???

[acdii]

Well considering the only 2010 Fusion with hydraulic PS is the Sport, I doubt its power steering, the 10 Hybrid is electric steering. The OP's description does sound like a wheel bearing. Axles click when turning, bearings grind, and get louder when turning from the added side pressure on the bad part of the bearing, gets softer when it relaxes in the opposite direction.

 

SO for example, wheel bearings have rollers on the inside and outside, with a gap in the middle. These cars use sealed bearing hubs, so they cant be inspected. When one set of rollers start to wear , they pit, score or start to disintegrate, so lets say the drivers side is going bad, and the outer bearing is bad, when you turn right, the car leans into that outer bearing putting a lot of pressure on it, so it will be the loudest at this point, and when you turn to the left, the pressure relaxes on the outer bearing and puts the pressure on the inner bearing, so its quieter. Only way to find out which wheel is bad is to get it on a lift, and use a mechanics stethiscope and listen to the hubs while spinning the wheel.

[jonesm8]

I wanted to reply with the fix! Luckily it was covered under warranty. I have 58500 miles.

 

The issue ended up being a bad hub bearing. The bearing was welded to the sleeve. It was have been $500+ to fix had it not been under warranty. I appreciate all the replies.

[jeff_h]

I wanted to reply with the fix! Luckily it was covered under warranty. I have 58500 miles.

 

The issue ended up being a bad hub bearing. The bearing was welded to the sleeve. It was have been $500+ to fix had it not been under warranty. I appreciate all the replies.

 

Glad you got it worked out (and Acdii was right, I was thinking CV joint based on the description of clunking, oh well)... I had one front wheel bearing go out at 33k miles on my 2010, service tech said 'wow these never go out'... but it was covered under warranty. The I hit the wheel bearing lotto and the other one went out at 118k so not covered under the extended warranty that stopped at 100k... I think it was about $370 to fix. But aside from those and the 02 sensor at 68k miles, it was 100% gas-n-go with no other issues.

[acdii]

I had to replace the left rear wheel bearing, car was still under warranty, but it was damaged from an impact against a curb, so not covered. $429 to replace and align the car. The front hub on the Flex we had was replaced at 9,000 miles, so was quite familiar with the noise the OP described.