I have a noise coming from the rear of the car and I plan on putting it up on jacks later this week to see if I can find the problem. What parts should I check? I know there is a suspicion it is the wheel bearing but I am sure there are other things that could be giving me troubles.

 

Check your CV boots while your under there. They give you a delayed problem after the grease washes out. clunk clunk clunk

 

There will be a clunk if the boots aren't greased?

 

ok...if it cluncks only when shifting and accelerating...then you have a bad rear differential mount....they are prone to breaking...... i just replaced mine last week...cost me $130 from the dealer

 

edit...

 

Yea Im sure it isnt the rear diff since Im sure I havent heard anything, Im guessing it will be able to move if it is broken?

 

it really wont move that much if you wiggle it, it tends to do it when 150 ft. lbs. of torque are pushing on it! but you'd know what i was talking about if thats what it was....... so i dont think it is either..... try the bearings first, then check the diff fluid for any metal shavings

 

is there a sure fire way to tell if the bearings are bad? I figure there would be some noise but anything else?

 

jack up the car and wiggle the wheel, if there is any slop, you have a bad wheel bearing (works on the front wheels, never tried on the rear)

 

If the boots get torn the grease gets washed out of the CV joint over time. Then the CV will wear out or seize a bearing in inner cage of the CV. The bearings will get grooved or the bearing cage will crack. Thats when you hear the clunking noises from a CV. It can take months of normal driving with a torn CV boot for this to happen.(thats the delay problem) If the boots are OK don't worry too much about the CV joints, unless you're making tons of power. Bearings will hum and change pitch with speed and in turns.

 

on the front if you wiggle the wheel back and forth and it moves DOES NOT the bearings are bad they just need readjusting and repacking. its a simple 5 minute job.

take off wheel, take off grease cap, take cotter pin out, and castle pin cap and if the grease is good you can just tighten the bearing back up. the key here when you tighten it is only tighten it with the wieght of the wrench. then just replace everyting in the oppistie order, this is only for the front bearings.