Hello, i just picked up a pretty sweet 98 ls400 a bit ago with 130k on it, but major maintenence done. It has a weird kinda moaning type sound...but only on the freeway (lets say from 65+) and it happens if i turn the wheel barely to either side. The steering still feels fine, and there really isn't any feedback in the wheel.

at first i was thinking PS issues. I checked the fluid, its fine. Pump does not make a single sound at idle, or at speeds below 65. I can turn to full lock either way and it sounds great, and the steering is perfect.


do you guys think it could be power steering related? Ive been searching for awhile so i dont get the newb hammer. All PS threads usually relate to whining sounds at idle or low speeds, PS leaks, or issues with steering response. The car has none of these, and on top of that, UCF20s dont really seem to have PS issues from what ive been reading.

I am going to be putting coilovers on it and replacing the major bushings while im at it pretty soon. Ill be getting new wheels so I can ditch those insane 235/60s on there which cant be helping with road noise. I was going to wait until i do that to see if anything changes, but i figured id ask to see what you guys think

thanks for the help

 

If the PS fluid is old and black it could create a moaning problem. In my experience moaning usually happens at lower speeds though.

Maybe a wheel bearing?

 

It SOUNDS like a PS problem, but its ONLY at high speeds... Im stumped. Ask a mechanic

 

It's pretty hard to diagnose via the internet.

 

yeah it is a pretty weird problem. I'll try a PS fluid flush and wait till i get some new bushings and suspension pieces. I'll keep an ear on the sound to make sure it doesnt get worse

i'm still crossing my fingers for crappy tires

 

So...

I took it to a shop to get a ps fluid flush just cause it looked pretty nasty. They tell me the weird sound ive been describing is the rear right wheel bearing. Makes sense.

Is it normal for shops to guilt trip the hell out of people? it wasnt THAT bad, definetly going out but they made it sound like im going to explode as soon as i put it in gear.

anyways, anyone know if the rear hub/wheel bearings are the same for all model LS? im sure there is tons of info already on older ones, hopefully they are the same

1998 LS400 again

 

I doubt they are exactly the same, but the procedure should be similar.

 

well if the wheel bearing dumps itself completely there is a chance of the wheel coming off the car....

 

You could check it for play.. just lift that wheel off the ground, have it in Neutral
((( Chock the fronts and the other rear so the car cant move!!!))),
..Then just spin the tire.. see of you hear anything... then try to move the tire side to side, and diagonally.. if the bearing has lots of play in it.. then you definatly need to change it now. Because Drifter is correct.. you will lose the wheel eventually. You might try this again with the wheel off.. so your looking at the rotor. But you will have more leverage to wiggle it with the tire on.

My personal experience with wheel bearings is that they get HORRIBLY LOUD like you cant hear yourself talk LOUD..before they fail... .. so my guess is you have some time... but it will only get worse.

Good Luck

Ken

 

Yeah unfortunately i daily drove an SR20 swapped 240sx since i was 18 so ive been to hell and back with problems like this. I dont think its loud enough to seize or lose a wheel at this point like you said

im going to take a shot at knocking out the wheel bearing either this weekend or the next. through searching ive noticed alot of people having wheel bearing issues on even low mileage UCF20/21s. Ill try to snap some pics and write up a quick tech howto if its not too complicated

at its core its just a RWD japanese car, i dont see how much different they can be