Wobble sound

JR47

MEMBER
1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
3.8L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
278,732 MILES

I noticed a wobble sound when I was getting onto the highway this afternoon. It wasn't present this morning when I was on the highway driving to work. The sound isn't there at low speeds and I'm not getting any sort of vibration or shaking from anywhere at all. I had a previous car that gave off a similar noise due to a few lug nuts popping off but I checked and I'm not missing any. So any insight on what to check next?

5 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Even though you are not missing any lug nuts, we need to check and make sure they are torqued properly as they can be loose and not fall off.

Here is a guide that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/wheel-removal-and-re-installation

https://youtu.be/_HIaE1MyDiw

Once we know the lugs are torqued properly then we can move on but I suspect we are going to need a recording of the noise because a wobble noise with no vibration doesn't sound like something familiar. So hearing it may get us on the same page pretty quickly.

Thanks

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Thursday, February 11th, 2021 AT 7:23 PM

JR47

MEMBER
100 POSTS

I was looking it over earlier and found some of the lugs were loose and I torqued them to what they should be but I noticed there is definitely play when you grab the wheel at the 6 and 12 position and shake it, even after I tightened the lugs it's was still there. I did take it for a short drive and the sound does increase as the speed increases.

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Thursday, February 11th, 2021 AT 7:45 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

That is great that you found that. If the lugs were tight then that was the next thing we were checking.

So that means it is most likely the lower ball joint which means the control arm needs to be replaced. I am attaching the process below of the control arm.

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Thursday, February 11th, 2021 AT 8:01 PM

JR47

MEMBER
100 POSTS

Hi, I don't think it's the ball joint. I'm not seeing any play in the outer tie rod or the ball joint and if I grab the hub assembly and shake it back and forth I get the play in all directions. I have taken all the brake components off so I have a clear view of the ball joint and tie rod and don't see any play in them.

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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 2:06 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

That is great that you found that. Wheel bearings are less likely when you have movement at 6 and 12 but once you add in the info of you get movement in all directions, then that points solely at the wheel bearing.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-front-wheel-bearings-and-seals

Here is the process from the wheel bearing as well. Thanks for the update.

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