[john112deere]

'98 Escort, haven't had it that long...still getting used to it and it's quirks compared to my old Ranger.

Shortly after I got it, my friend and I were riding around, and on one particular 90* right turn (a long way from here), I noticed a "scraping" sort of sound, that seemed to come from the right front.

A week or so later, I put a new radiator in the car, and looked for but didn't find any signs of tire/splash guard contact. I also put replaced two broken rear coils, and both rear sway bar links (one was broken). Didn't find anything back there that seemed to fit the noise I was hearing, but I assumed it was probably from one of the broken rear components, as I hadn't heard it since that one week on vacation.

Then yesterday, I was driving in the mountains (in VT) and on a couple of really tight right-hand bends, I heard the noise again. It's a kind of shukka-shukka-shukka-shukka noise- not what I'd describe as a "clicking" so I'm thinking/hoping it's not CV joints.

The fact that it's only really tight bends with a little bit of speed (I can run around a parking lot at full lock without a problem) makes me think it's something that rubs when the car leans over. I'd think tires, but I just had new tires put on and they didn't say anything about seeing any marks from rubbing on the old ones (and I didn't notice when I had the RF tire off changing the radiator).

Sorry to ramble on so...I'm not familiar enough with this car to know where to begin finding this noise, or to know what might be relevant, so I tried to include everything that might be relevant.

Thanks for any advice on how I can better identify this sound.
-Ian

 

[rbailin]

What size tires are on the car?

 

[john112deere]

Uh...185/65-14, I think.

The new ones are the same size as the ones that were on it when I got the car, and I'm reasonably certain (though by no means positive) they're the stock size.

 

[98_Jim]

Check the axle on the passenger side.... There's a plastic cover that stops water from splashing up on the engine. It's bolted in place. There isn't that much clearance between the lower part of the cover and the axle.. The cover might have slipped down a little and is making contact when the axle goes to its maximum travel.

Look for scuffing on the bottom of the plastic cover, or circular marks worn into the dust/dirt on the axle from the cover rubbing... If you push on the cover, there should be no play around the screws that hold it place.

It might also be worthwhile to check the rubber boot on the CV joint to make sure it's in one piece... Plus while your down by the wheel... Make sure all the wheel bolts are tight.

 

[john112deere]

Check the axle on the passenger side.... There's a plastic cover that stops water from splashing up on the engine. It's bolted in place. There isn't that much clearance between the lower part of the cover and the axle.. The cover might have slipped down a little and is making contact when the axle goes to its maximum travel.

Look for scuffing on the bottom of the plastic cover, or circular marks worn into the dust/dirt on the axle from the cover rubbing... If you push on the cover, there should be no play around the screws that hold it place.

It might also be worthwhile to check the rubber boot on the CV joint to make sure it's in one piece... Plus while your down by the wheel... Make sure all the wheel bolts are tight.

Thanks!

Hurricane Danny is passing through here right now, but I'll check that out as soon as it stops raining.

 

[FordMan59]

I don't quite understand what kind of noise you are describing, but if it is a popping or grinding noise it's posible it could be a bad wheel bearing.

 

[john112deere]

Describing noises always gets tricky.

I guess I'd say a "scraping" sound. My first thought was that the tire was hitting a splash shield. I don't see any evidence of that, but it was the first thing that came to mind based on the sound.

How do you check front wheel bearings on a FWD car?