Front pass wheel grind

[mtbe]

Not really a grinding. More like a 'umph'. 99 Forester S.

 

Driving from Chicago to Cols, Oh, stopped in Indiana for lunch. When starting in motion with wheels turned, there was a definate 'umph...umph...umph' sound from front pass wheel area. We could also feel it in the steering column. I did not hear this when wheels were straight. Only heard when turning, forward and reverse. I was only in first gear and was to nervous to drive it fast. It was like the wheel got stuck and then would 'give'.

 

Went ahead and got it towed to the closest Subaru dealer and they took a look at it. Nothing. Wouldn't you know Murphy's Law would interfere? Drove it around for them and everything and still nothing.

 

Went ahead and drove to Indianapolis and and soon as we slowed down (and turned into a parking spot), we heard and felt it again. Drove around the parking lot, and heard and felt the same noise again...only when turning. Again, did not drive fast.

 

By this time it was very late in the evening so we decided to press our luck and continue to Columbus. In Columbus, we did not hear it.

 

Will take to dealer, but have not heard the sound today.

 

Any ideas? Only when hot (driven for a while)? Ball joint, CV joint, tie rod, bearing??????

[97OBW]

torque bind, check your tire pressure

[idosubaru]

torque bind - is the transmission lugging when it makes this noise? the car feels a little weighted down sort of when it's making the nosie?

 

ice/snow isn't getting packed under the wheel wells is it?

 

i'd guess CV joint if it's not torque bind.

[mtbe]

torque bind, check your tire pressure

 

Pressure in tires in Indianapolis was slightly above 30lbs. This is when we heard the noise the second time. The Subaru dealer did say the pressure was low in the tires, filled them up and did not hear the sound the first time. But the pressure was above 30 in Indy and we heard and felt the same noise. It did not seem that the transmission was 'bogged' down either.