Front End Noise

[OldWarrior70]

I have a 2017 Sonic Premiere with nearly 260,000 trouble free miles my on it. Overall,I am very pleased with it. But recently it has developed a noise from the front end (steering?) That is only noticable when turning left it sounds like a metal on metal noise. anyone else experience anything like this or have an idea what may be causing it?

 

[LilRedLtz]

I have 170,000 on mine and had a similar noise and just did my wheel bearing and cv axle on the passenger side. I knew the axle was bad and the bearing was making some noise. Now I am noticing the intermediate shaft is making some grinding noise occasionally when turning. Could be one of the bearings or low brake tabs. The axle was more of a clicking sound when turning

 

[hawkeye75]

Does it sound like this (https://streamable.com/24c08i)? I have had it come on and off for a long time (15,000 miles+). Happens one day, then won't come back for another few months. In addition to what the other user said, it might also just be the dust shield touching the rotors? Just a guess.

 

[wasteoffilm]

I have a 2017 Sonic Premiere with nearly 260,000 trouble free miles my on it. Overall,I am very pleased with it. But recently it has developed a noise from the front end (steering?) That is only noticable when turning left it sounds like a metal on metal noise. anyone else experience anything like this or have an idea what may be causing it?

I'm at 145k, and have noticed this now. Under load, any amount of left turn, scraping/grinding noise with shimmy/shake of the car also present. Gets worse with steeper hills and/or more passengers. Highway speeds mostly, doesn't care what gear its in. Doesn't feel like a CV or wheel bearing to me, so figured it is the intermediate shaft, and came here to search.
@LilRedLtz
@hawkeye75
Any confirmations?

 

[Z71]

I noticed slight scraping noise when making a right 90 degree turn under power at low speed. There is no noise or vibration at high speeds. I am at 158k miles now (2013 Sedan LT, 5 speed manual, 1.8 liter engine). I will check my front wheel bearings tomorrow. Typically, if there is any noticeable play in the bearing when you move an unloaded wheel from side to side and up and down, the wheel bearing needs replacing. It may be easier just the replace the whole hub assembly to save the cost of pressing the bearing in and out. GM offers entire front hub assemblies complete with the ABS sensor.
My front axle CV joints may be getting worn out too but they usually make a clicking noise when bad.

 

[wasteoffilm]

I swapped the intermediate shaft yesterday, and the noise seems to be gone. Need to test again with passenger load. Vibrations seem less, but not gone. There was moderate play in the shaft bearing, also a little play in the inboard cv, did not replace. Wheel bearing was tight.

 

[Z71]

This morning I inspected all CV boots and front wheel bearings. There was no damage to CV boots and no noticeable play in wheel bearings or CV joints.

 

[wasteoffilm]

Could be a rotor or drum rubbing a backing plate.

 

[Enak]

I have a 2017 Sonic Premiere with nearly 260,000 trouble free miles my on it. Overall,I am very pleased with it. But recently it has developed a noise from the front end (steering?) That is only noticable when turning left it sounds like a metal on metal noise. anyone else experience anything like this or have an idea what may be causing it?

I just completed installing passenger side cv half axle myself and that was it. Creaking grinding noise from right front when turning left. I tried new sway bar links because posts recommended it, but it wasn't. Now I have yet to figure out new clunking noise when driving or swerving left right. I will inspect upper strut mount next

 

[Enak]

I installed my new passenger side strut from Detroit Axle and my Sonic is now noise free and handles great. Pretty easy job after having learned how to replace the CV axle already