Hello all, I have a 02 that I bought used with 80k miles on it. I drove it for 2k miles and heard faint creaking everytime the left rear wheel spins when I am off of the gas, esp 20mph or coasting. Now it is loud and embarassing and sounds almost like crunching/snapping. It is relative to the speed of the vehicle also.

The sound occurs for about 1/4 of the wheel turn, not 100% of the rotation.

It is definitely rotational, and brakes on or off don't change a thing.

I hear it go away after 30mph or so, but by then it is high pitched and fades away.

Please save my 02!

 

Your description would seem to be a bad differential. When you bought the car did you buy from a dealer or from a private owner? If it was a dealer, did they change the differential fluid? It's not uncommon for them to use the wrong fluid and, a few hundred miles later, the differential fails. Just guessing at this point.

 

Other things to consider are:
1. Wheel hub / bearings
2. CV joint
3. THEN the differential

 

I'll check into those. It occurs in gear or out, either way.

The sound seems to echo out of the left rear wheel. I also noticed there is about 1-2mm of play when you lift the left rear wheel up and shake it side to side. The rotor also moves with the wheel....

Thanks for the advice!

 

It seems to be typical that the driver's side rear wheel bearing go bad. Mine was replaced due to excessive movement after a short period of clicks and rotational noises that increasing the axle nut torque to 220 lb-ft didn't cure...

 

Definitely sounds like the wheel bearing is about to go...it will probably start hissing and then squealling within a short time.

 

Sounds like an axle nut torque issue for sure.

If the axle nut fix does not fix it, the damage to the hubs and bearings is already done.

 

Well you guys were right. Wheel bearing plus wheel hub ground down. So basically the bearing seized up and spun on the hub. Several hundred dollars later...

 

What all had to be replaced?

 

How much was the fix?