I have a grinding noise coming from the front.

RUSSBOONE

MEMBER
1997 NISSAN ALTIMA
130,000 MILES

I have a grinding noise coming from the front end of my Altima. I checked the rotors and they are fine. I checked the front wheels for wheel bearing play, but they seem solid. The grinding doesn't come while it is idling. It only comes when I am driving. It is not any worse when I apply the brakes, so I don't think it is a braking issue. It sounds like it is coming more from the middle of the front end rather than from either side. Do you know what it could be?

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Could be a bad wheel bearing even though you don't feel any play. Do you have a jack and jack stands?

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Saturday, February 23rd, 2013 AT 2:11 AM

HOMER1967

MECHANIC
875 POSTS

Does the noise change when you turn left or right around 45 miles per hour?

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Saturday, February 23rd, 2013 AT 2:14 AM

RUSSBOONE

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I do have a jack and jack stands. I don't notice any change in noise while going around a corner.

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Monday, February 25th, 2013 AT 5:55 PM

HOMER1967

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875 POSTS

I would take it to a capable shop. Noises and especially front ent noises can travel from great distances and be very deceiving and hard to locate.

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Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 AT 1:07 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Get the front wheels off the ground with the front suoported by jack stands. Then with the car in neutral put one hand on the coil spring and use your other hand to spin the wheel as fast as you can. If you have a bad wheel bearing you should be able to feel it in coil spring. Compare each side to each other.