QuestionHi, I have a 1991 Dodge Daytona ES V-6 3.0. My problem is this: whenever I'm turning right,I hear a kind of grinding noise that fades in and out during the duration of the turn.It only happens when I turn right no matter what the speed.
AnswerHi John,
A true grinding sound is usually that of a wheel bearing, and it is exacerbated by turns. A bearing can also make noise when going straight ahead, but the first sign of the failure is during turns if it is a front wheel bearing that is wearing out.
The other possibility is a cv-joint, though it usually makes a clicking sound when turning rather than a grinding sound and it usually varies depending upon whether you are coasting or accelerating.
These usually fail when the rubber boot that retains the grease tears and looses its lubricant. You can visually inspect the inner and outer boot on each half axle, but you'll need to jack up the car on the side that is making noise to do so. If the boots are intact, then the cv joints probably are also, so then the focus would shift to the bearing.
So try to figure out which side the noise is coming from.
In either event (wheel bearing or cv joint), to effect a repair you begin by removing the half-shaft, at least the outside end of it, from the wheel hub. Then you can spin the wheel hub and listen for the grinding noise independent of the half shaft. A bad wheel bearing will make a quiet rumbling sound when turned by hand at low rpm.
Chrysler used two types of front hubs, one in which the entire hub and bearing is replaced as a unit (bolt-in they are called) and the other requires only that the bearing be replaced (called press-in). The former costs more, but the latter requires an extra tool so it may be about as expensive to do the repair, part-wise. If you have disc brakes (both front and rear) then it is more likely that you have the bolt-in type, which is easier to replace.
Use a shop manual to help if you do the work yourself, and if you have the tools.
