Left Front Wheel Bearings or Power Steering?

[Depewtee]

Hi All -

I have a noise in need of diagnosis and attention on my 1984 MC-9.  I believe it to be coming from either the left front wheel bearings or the power steering unit.  It is a rrrrrrunt, rrrrrrunt, rrrrrunt sound that increases in frequency with the speed of the bus.  It sounds as if there is one spot in the rotation of the left front wheel where the rrrrrunt sound occurs.  Applying the brakes does not seem to have an effect on the noise.  I would suspect it would be a wheel bearing, but it began as a very faint sound that only occurred when I turned the steering wheel to the left.  It was not very noticeable at first, but now it is noticeable at all speeds.  The power steering fluid reservoir was a bit low when I first got the bus (maybe a pint) and does not seem to be losing fluid.  I have the oil filled bearings  on the front wheels.  I checked the oil level and it appears to be full.  What do you all think?  Wheel bearings?  Power steering? Something else?  Need more information?

Brian S.

[robertglines1]

ck your tire.see if maybe the tread has started to separate from the caseing..or bearing to loose...Just out there I know but you cked the most likely...The tire thing happened to me...Bob

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Jack up the front end and try spinning the left wheel by hand and see if you can hear any noise.  Start the bus and turn the wheels side to side with somebody moving around and listening for any noise. Also check to see that your lug nuts aren't loose.

[eddiepotts]

look for a sloppy tie rod letting your tire wobble

[gumpy]

If it increases in frequency with speed, it's not the steering box. It's in the wheel.

You've probably got a brake drum that it slightly out of round or off center and may have a hard spot in it.
Could also be a broken or missing return spring.
Pull the wheel and brake drum and check the condition of you shoes and springs.

craig

[Sean]

Brian,

We're still in town if you want me to come look/listen.  Although we may be shipping out for Earl, hard to say right at the moment.

I thought the bus was in LA?

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Depewtee]

Sean,

Yes, the bus is in LA (Lower Alabama) right now.  I plan on switching out buses next weekend, so I can prepare the MC-9 for the Talladega trip.  I need to resolve this noise issue and take it to Mobile to have the genset looked at (they could not make a service call).

Earl looks like it could cause some problems for the East Coast.

Brian S.

[steve wardwell]

 steering pump?   

[Fred Mc]

I have the same problem occuring in my work truck. It is a cupped tire. Check the tire for flat spots on the outside and inside tread.

Fred Mc.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

So did you find out what it was yet?

[Depewtee]

I have not had the bus back to the house to check for the problem yet.  Will update all when I learn more.  Thanks for all of the recommendations.

Brian S.