Bearing issue again!?! Possible Aspire swap in the near future

[sickfleming]

I've noticed the past month or so that there is noise coming from my right front wheel. It started after I replaced my transaxle seal on the same side, and I thought it's because the rotors got a little rusty from the rain while I was replacing the aforementioned seal. Started off a rough, noticeable but not that loud groan that would only make noise while the wheels are turning (slowing while.decelerating, hastening while accelerating etc.)
Now it is very loud and noticeable, and the groan is now not only constant, but it sounds as if it's moving in a rotating pattern, if that makes sense (insert "whup-whup-whup-whup" pattern here)

When my car was hit from behind about two weeks ago at 35 mph, it was hardly damaged (can't say the same for the other guy's New Mercury Milan lol). But when I picked it up from the body shop yesterday, one of the mechanics noticed the noise while driving it. He said he'd be willing to bet it's the bearing. I told him that I just rebuilt that steering knuckle about 4,000 miles ago, and it was the last one I did. Is there that high a chance the bearing might have been defective from the start?

I feel I should mention the fact that my car feels like it's dragging along with the noise, as if I took off with the e-brake still engaged. And my e-brake is pretty much useless when it comes to inclines. Maybe it's a brake problem and not a bearing problem?

It's just that I just bought a left side front tire a couple days ago due to an irreparable leak, and I just found out that there is a screw in my left front tire yesterday (not leaking really). I'm getting money from the insurance company next week to replace the bumper and fix the slight buckle in the trunk floor. However, I hope to use the money to Aspire swap it. This would be my first aspire swap.

Also, I know junkyards are always an option, but are there any forum members around the Houston area with some aspire parts lying around?

[scitzz]

Did you keep hold of the spacer that goes between the bearings when you rebuilt the knuckle?

[sickfleming]

Yeah. I didn't even remove it or budge it really. I just put the new races where the old ones were up against that spacer. That was a few thousand miles ago. Since then, however, I DID replace the transaxle seal on the same side which involves removing the axle from the steering knuckle. When I put everything back together, I simply just tightened the axle nut to the torque it was before, but I didn't do the "crank a little and back off" preload adjustment like I did when I installed the bearings. Would that have been necessary even though it was the second time?

[scitzz]

Nah. Is the sound coming from there? The description sounds like bearing noise, if you catch my drift. I suppose bearings could have been damaged, especially in the rear.

[sickfleming]

Yeah, I've heard a bit about the rear ones. But it's certainly coming from that right front. I guess brakes might not be as likely. I'll check for play here shortly

[scitzz]

Blech, yeah, I guess you know how to check? One way I do it is to push against it with my foot, at the top of the tire, and see if it wobbles while sitting.

If that reveals nothing, check the tire itself all the way, see if it has a busted band, or a screw in it, something like that.

All else fails, jack that tire up, and wobble left/right, up/down, and check for play.

Good luck!

P.S. Bad suspension can break bearings.

[sickfleming]

Right. I'll try switching the wheels around to check if it's the tire. It does have a screw about a half inch away from the sidewall, so it might be a bad tire. Unfortunate, since they're relatively new.

Yeah, I hope it's something small. I don't feel much like throwing money at something I plan on removing anyway lol

[denguy]

Jack up the front, start car, put in gear, if there is no noise I think it is the bearing.

[scitzz]

Jack up the front, start car, put in gear, if there is no noise I think it is the bearing.

That wouldn't account for a problem with a tire, or moving suspension parts though.

[sickfleming]

Well, I checked the wheel and it had a bit of play in all directions. Also I jacked the front end up, started and drove, spinning th wheels freely. No noise. I guess it is the bearing. Really sucks because I rebuilt that steering knuckle about 4,000 miles ago. Oh well. I just hope it holds out Tuesday when I have a day off (I'm a delivery driver). Also I noticed that when I wiggled the wheel at the 9 and 3 o clock position, I thought I felt the car actually steer from my pulling. It just seemed a little odd.

Also, I'm going to look for some salvage yards near me to look for aspire parts for a future swap. Does anybody have a list of what I need tool wise and what to get from the donor and such? And does anyone have any links to any how-to aspire swap build threads? I don't have much luck with the search button lol

[scitzz]

If you have both wheels off the ground, you can turn the wheels like steering. EZPZ.

For the Aspire swap, read this thread.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?2157-Festiva-Aspire-custom-info-*please-read-before-you-post*

Just to be clear from an earlier post of yours, when we spoke of spacer, you are speaking of the piece that resembles a flat washer, and goes inside the hub between the two bearings, correct?

Dangit, Genevadirt has video of Arty doing the job at madness! Willy! Post that up, man!

EDIT!

I was looking through the thread, since I have an aspire at my house and need to research the swap fro myself, and I am getting a dead link. Will search for more...

Second Edit!

Google search gives this, I have read it before, and is the one I was looking for...

http://www.clubprotege.com/wil/howto/aspirebrakes.htm

[Bert]

Easiest way to get all the parts you need for an Aspire swap is to have an entire Aspire right in front of you. Typically a complete car is cheaper than gathering parts off a junkyard find and that way you get a free engine, battery and wheels to go with it. Some of the stuff will be difficult to remove without benefit of a breaker bar or blue wrench. And don't forget to carefully remove the e-brake right up to the handle.

[scitzz]

. Some of the stuff will be difficult to remove without benefit of a breaker bar or blue wrench.

Careful, your salt road driving is showing

Man, am I glad NC cars don't have much rust! Hopefully, he can find one with little in TX as well...