[meelaud]

After some good wheeling last weekend, my 2001 xterra has developed a slight whirring sound when turning right. It sounds like it's coming from the front passenger side. Coincidently there is also a small pool of oil when parked for several hours. Behind the front passenger wheel.

The car tracks straight. Does this sound like a bad bearing?

 

[beef tits]

There is no oil anywhere near there. Are you sure it's not axle grease, power steering fluid or brake fluid?

Identify the fluid and see where the leak is coming from...

 

[meelaud]

So the leaking was from the bottom of the power steering reservoir. Just tightened the clamp and that seemed to do the trick. But the crappy stock clamp is on it's way out. I'll replace it with a better clamp.

So the leaking stopped but the whirring sound is still there. It happens under power when turning at low speeds.

I'm gonna jack the front wheels off the ground to see if there's any play in the wheels.

 

[meelaud]

Took it to a shop for a diagnostic - they think it may be the bearings. Ordered new inner/outer bearings for the front. will slap them on this week to see if that cures the problem.

 

[Bklyn.X]

Does the whirring sound when turning right happen when the truck is not moving? Does the pitch of the sound change as your speed changes?

 

[meelaud]

Does the whirring sound when turning right happen when the truck is not moving? Does the pitch of the sound change as your speed changes?

Yea it only happens when i'm moving - but it's sporadic. The pitch seems to be constant too.

 

[Bklyn.X]

Hmmm, the leak, constant pitch and "when turning" has me thinking steering pump but it should still make the sound when not moving, just turning the wheel... Have you tried adding any stop leak to the power steering?

 

[meelaud]

Hmmm, the leak, constant pitch and "when turning" has me thinking steering pump but it should still make the sound when not moving, just turning the wheel... Have you tried adding any stop leak to the power steering?

Yea i'm leaning more towards something steering related now. I had a mechanic give me a second opinion and they didn't think it was a wheel bearing. I had put some lucas stop leak in there a year or so ago - i will drain and fill it up with more to see if that does the trick. Interestingly it has been doing it less over the past 2 days.

 

[Bklyn.X]

I wouldn't drain it, just add the stop-leak and see what happens. I wouldn't drain it unless I was rebuilding or replacing the steering box.

 

[Bklyn.X]

 

[meelaud]

Ha! My bad, haven't driven it much as of late. But after beating the X pretty hard over the weekend, I didn't notice the sound at all since adding stop leak to the steering.

 

[Bklyn.X]

Cool!

 

[beef tits]

Mine makes a weird whirring when turning after being off-road too. It sounds like dust/shit in the brakes to me. I'd check that you have pad spacers and grease where needed.

 

[Anes Galuh]

I'm new here, wanna ask how to repair Bearing & Wheel Hubs thanks