There is knocking in the rear pass side of my wagon. It happens going around corners and it seems to knock every rotation of the wheel. There is also a squeakin sound coming from the same area and at the same intervals as the knock but it will do it while driving straight, although it isn't constant and goes away before 20mph of so. Originally I thought that it was a wheel bearing, but then it occurred to me that it could be my cv joint. Is there a way to test it?

Jack it up and shake the tire, if it moves it's the bearing. Also, drive it a bit, and feel the hub. If it's hotter than the other side, it's the bearing. If it passes these two tests, chances are you have an axle problem.

Remove the rear CV's and test drive it. They are removed easily by knocking out the roll pins on the splined stub shafts of the diff and the axle shaft that runs through the bearings. If your sound remains after removing the rear axles then it's clearly a wheel bearing. Either way - if it's bearings or CV's you will have to remove them. If it's the bearings you'll know, and if it's the CV's you'll already have them removed.

 

GD

Thanks guys. Good advice from both of you.