Front left tire rubbing on control arm

ROPER SHUPP

MEMBER
2006 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
5.3L
V8
AUTOMATIC
99,000 MILES

I have looked all over for an answer for this problem and cannot seem to find anything that works. My front left tire is rubbing on my upper control arm, this has happened once before and a family friend came over and messed with it and it was fixed for five or six months. He said at the time that he "tightened a bolt" and it was no longer touching. However I can not get a hold of him any longer to ask exactly what he tightened and I cannot seem to find it on my own. I can take pictures if needed. Any help at all is appreciated. Thank you, have a blessed day.

3 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

There is more involved than tightening a bolt. You should be noticing a pull to the right when driving due to the left wheel being tipped that way.

Look first at the upper ball joint. Be sure it is not loose in the control arm, then look at its stud where it goes into the top of the spindle. If that nut is loose and the stud is wobbling around in the hole, the only proper repair is to replace the ball joint and the spindle. Once either part has wear from wobbling around, the stud will never mate securely in the hole. At best it will continue to work loose. At worst, and more commonly, the stud will snap off. Either condition is obviously a safety issue.

You didn't list if this is a four wheel drive truck. If it is, and you have an outer CV joint, that axle nut holds the wheel bearing assembly together. If there is ever any vehicle weight on that bearing while the nut isn't torqued to specs, the bearing will instantly become noisy. It will make a buzzing noise like an airplane engine. If you put up with that long enough, it will allow the wheel to tip in on top.