Re: Howling wolf...

["Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@NWOhio.com>]

Hello Dave.........Mine is also an 87 5kcstq at 130,000 miles, and it has a
front end sound that I think is either wheel bearings or tire tread. I hope
for tire tread, but am trying to be objective. It has year-old Sears
Bridgestone Roadhandler GT Performance H tires at 32 psi.

The sound is loudest on smooth asphalt with cold tires, at about 35 mph,
and gets louder when I gently turn about 5 degrees right or left. I think
right is louder than left. There is a fine vibration in the steering wheel
that goes on at the same time. It puzzles me that road surface has such a
pronounced effect on the sound.....makes me think that it is probably tires.

Noise and steering wheel vibration recedes when I go faster, and between 60
and 110 it isn't noticable.I should really put it on a lift, start the
engine, put it in gear and touch the bearing housing while the wheels are
turning. If it is a really toasted bearing, I will probably feel the
vibration even with the bearing unloaded. My mechanic uses a stethoscope on
this test. But I don't have a lift. 

That about covers it.

Maybe some other 5kcstq owners will provide additional insight and
experience. Good thread IMO.

Doyt Echelberger
86 4kcsq
87 5kcstq           1.7 bar and smiling


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 12:03 AM 6/8/98 EDT, you wrote:
>It appears that the mysterious high speed left sweeper judder may have
>identified itself at long last - I'm getting a howling whine from the front
>end that I believe is a wheel bearing. Aside from being present especially
>at low speed and with a fresh (cold) drive - I'm thinking it may be
>responsible for my irritating steering wobble that I've had for many moons
>and attributed to my fearsome T rated %^%$&%* tires I found so impossible
>to wear out.
>
>The whine will not go away when present by placing the trans in neutral and
>coasting, which to me at least pretty well clinches the wheel bearing
>thought. I've always had what I consider an excessive gear whine and
>driveline slop anyway (230K duhhh!) but all those type whines usually at
>least change pitch with a change in torque applied (uh oh, sounds torsony,
>don't wanta go there!).
>
>Anybody out there want to describe some of their problems that went away
>with a wheel bearing change?
>********************************AUDI FAN***********************************
>                                   EMCM(SW) Dave Head  
>87 5KCStq 230K miles                1.85 or so... bar 
>    qcusa #3442           Oviedo, Florida     plate: STLTHTQ
>****************************************************************************
>**
>
>