Questions and Answers

Saturn SC Front End Noise Q. Hello Vince, Excellent web site. I have a 1992 Saturn SC Twin Cam, 1.9 liter with no ABS, automatic transmission and 107,000 miles. At roughly 20 mph and above I have a loud low frequency vibration. To isolate I jacked the front end, removed the wheels, brake discs and calipers, and ran it in drive. It was definitely drive line, engine speed didn't matter, but the noise followed axle speed.

Then, by alternating spinning one wheel at a time (engine running, transmission in drive, stopping one wheel with my hand), I noticed that I only had the noise when the left wheel was spinning. Which at least tells me it's not the intermediate shaft which runs out to the right wheel. I know its not the CV drive axles because, stupidly, I changed them when the noise first started to appear 5,000 miles ago. Its not a typical CV drive axles noise.

One interesting thing is that the steering wheel vibrates, on the road or jacked in my garage with wheels and brakes off. This is a loud, low, throbbing vibration. Could this be some sort of normal, for a 1992 Saturn, vibration being amplified up my steering column? The vibrations can be felt most strongly there, but maybe most vibrations are.

If its a transaxle output shaft for the left axle, shouldn't it have failed completely by now? The axle still rotates freely. Anything more I can test? I don't want to change the transmission needlessly.

Thanks,
Craig

A. Sounds like you are describing a bad front wheel bearing inside the hub. This would be the part that the wheel bolts to. They are usually a sealed unit and not repairable.

You can try holding a long screwdriver to your ear and place the tip as close to the spinning axle on the rear side where it goes through the hub. If it's loud, replace the hub assembly.