Tire / alignment help

I have a 06 Mitsubishi eclipse I use to get back and forth to work. Over the past few weeks it has developed a vibration/ tire noise. I swapped the wheels front to back and did a quick check of the front toe, the toe seemed at least close. Obviously this has not helped. the only abnormal tread wear is on the outside tread blocks the front (rolling forward ) of the blocks is higher then the back of the tread blocks. I believe this is where the noise/ vibration is coming from. Now for the interesting part If I turn left on a curve it gets worse but if I turn right on a curve it get quieter and less vibration. Also this does not show up until around 25 mph. a quick look at suspension pieces shows nothing wore out or loose. Ideas please.   

I'm going to take a guess and say you have a failing wheel bearing. 

Does it sound like this?

I 2nd the wheel bearing

I would also say wheel bearing and/or possibly a CV joint.

O.k. I'll check the wheel bearings again, but when I rotated the tires I could not feel any play in them.

zordak said:

O.k. I'll check the wheel bearings again, but when I rotated the tires I could not feel any play in them.

Unit bearings can make noise before they have play in them.  In fact, you really want to replace them before they have play.  The time between play and catastrophic failure can be really short.

Ordered new ones last night. Hopefully nothing is rusted beyond separation. It looks like if I can get it apart I do not have to remove the knuckle.

O.K. Started yesterday afternoon to remove one of the front hub/bearing assemblies. I tried to use a smaller 3 jaw puller to press out the half shaft but it hasn't budged. I am making a dedicated puller that will use a larger fine thread screw. Anyone have any tricks, tips etc. for getting this thing loose? I do not have access to a hot wrench. If the puller does not work I will have to replace the half shafts.

The puller I built did the trick I have the drivers side replaced. I think the smaller 3 jaw was working, it was just that tight and did not just snap loose like I thought it would.

Glad to hear it's coming together. 

And apart. 

Update: On to the other side. Pulled the caliper, just pulled the whole caliper and mount bracket. Wrestled the disc off. Removed the cotter pin and axle nut. Gave everything a coat of liquid wrench and put the puller on. The puller turned a lot harder and made some popping noises, I pulled off the puller and checked, and what I am using to keep the axle from turning had cracked the hub flange. Also the end of the half shaft is mushroomed and bent out of shape. The shaft is coming out but a lot harder than the other side. I have ordered a new half shaft. Hopefully it arrives before the end of the weekend so I can drive it to work instead of the Liberty.

Sucks to have to fight it like that. Good luck.

I'm spoiled from living in the south. Pulling half shafts down here consists of smacking it once or twice with a brass drift and a hammer. 

Hi. Just got done wrestling the the rh shaft out. Had to remove the inner shaft as there wasn't any room to tap on the inner cv joint to pop it loose. Do not believe anyone who says the CV is held on the shaft by the boot there is a wire clip that holds it together, you just have to clean out the gallon of grease hiding it. I have cut the axle shaft by the outer CV so I can get the knuckle/hub/axle shaft in a lathe and drill out the axle shaft from the hub so I can salvage the knuckle. The CV axle is supposed to arrive tomorrow so maybe I can drive it to work on monday. 

After a trip to a machine shop I finally have a naked knuckle to put back together. 

Success!!! The half shaft showed up today. I was able to put it all back together and tested. I is really nice that the vibration/noise is gone.

Good deal. Glad the turned out to be the problem