I have been posting quite a bit lately, sorry for sucking up so much server space. here is another problem I am having.

here is the lowdown:

1966 Dodge Dart 270 with slant six and 3-speed auto.
when i make a good solid right hand turn, i hear a grinding coming from my front driver's side wheel. is it my wheel bearing? (last time i heard a bad wheel bearing it would grind in unison with speed and constantly). so maybe not. is it a bad spring (torsion bar and bad shock) cause when i make the turn and when the shock is fully loaded (the car is sinking 100% on the driver's side) that is when the sound is the MOST prevalent.

I am kind of in the dark right with this one right now.

help me please.

Caesar

Strut rod bushing?

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Check the cheap and easy stuff first. Is there any chance something is simply rubbing the tire/rim when the suspension is loaded that way?
Have you changed anything in the area of the noise lately?
When did you check your wheel bearings last?

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

Oh, and how is the torque on your lugnuts?

_________________
"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

the torque on the lug nuts is good, but one lug nut bolt is torn. but all the four remaining lugnuts are TIGHT. i dont use a torque wrench, just tighten them very tight.

other than that, i have to inspect the suspension. what should I look for?

caesar

hmmm...look underneath and see if you see some clean spots....ie...where it is hitting. Or crank it to the right and spin the tire....if it is hitting something then it may be pulling the front down with the tire...does it stop making the sound if you back off on the turning a little?

Sounds like a bad wheel bearing.

it doesnt grind hardly at all if i am mildly turning, even if the wheel is turned hard, but the speed is reduced to lower the amount that the suspension is loaded on that side. I still havent had any time to get underneath and take a look since I am driving my other car right now to give the '66 a break.

My next major move is to replace the springs (torsion bars) and the shocks upfront. I want to upgrade to disc brakes up front, but that is far off in the future so for now I am just going to improve the parts that are on the car now.

Thanks for the help, and keep it coming. also my dad is out of town, and he is pretty good at diagnosing these types of things, or at least planing a systematic way of narrowing the search down.

Caesar

no rubbing on the tire. suspension bshings (strut rod bushings and springfs bushings) are all good. My dad says wheel bearing, and so did a fellow mopar enthu here in town. Now that I listened to it carefully while driving, i have to admit, it does sound lIke a wheel bearing. kicker is I have to replace my front driver's drum and lug nuts also.

I will begin new post regarding this since i am having braking problems as well.

Caesar

ps.
going to replace both front wheel bearings.

there's no need to replace the drum. if you are careful and have a good punch and 24oz. ballpeen hammer, you can replace the bearing races. when you buy the bearings they will come with the race that goes in the drum. you can replace your broken stud at the same time. similar way also. pound out the stud with hammer and punch. pound in new stud with hammer.

if your interested i have a set of front 9" drums complete with newer shoes and good bearings that i took off my car. $50 plus shipping.

also have the K-H SBP discs with new ball joints and new bearings. $350 plus shipping

zedpapa

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1970 dodge dart w/225 /6 bored .040" over, holley 390cfm w/vac. sec., compcams 252s, clifford shorty headers w/2.5" exhaust w/flowmaster, f-body 11" front discs, aluminum A-833OD, 8 1/4 w/3.21 SG
soon to have 5 gears!!!

i would take u up on that offer for front shoes and drums, but I am planning on replacing my front end suspension, brakes, and wheels with hardware from 73-76 A-body. I have 73 swinger, and I love the brakes on that thing, stops 10 times better than my 270 (obviously).

Thanks for the offer though and the info.

take care.

Caesar