wgripp

iTrader: (1)

There is a strange, intermittent sound coming the front passenger's side of my car. I took it for a spin today at 25-40 mph. Many times, the sound seemed to get worse when I cut my wheel to the left. The harder I cut my wheel to the left, the louder the sound. The sound seemed to pulse with the rotation of my wheel. It didn't sound like typical brake noise. I got out and inspected the rotors, there were no scratches/gashes in the rotors. Also, my brake fluid is well below the minimum level.

Also, when my wife pulled the car in the garage for me, she said she thought the brakes felt soft. I hadn't noticed, but I've recently had surgery on my driving leg. I'm not sure if the soft brakes are related to this issue.

The car is a 1991 GTA with 57,000+ miles that is seldom driven. Usually it's allowed to idle to flow the oil and recharge the battery. It has an Ed Miller Willwood brake kit that cost me ~$1000 (installed years ago), so I hope nothing's wrong with the brakes.

Do you have any ideas?

Thanks!
Bill

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Sounds like you may have a leak

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like a wheel bearing, and a brake leak.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

The bearing retaining nut may just be loose on the passenger side, or the bearing may be toast(or both). If the front brakes are fairly recent, I'd start in the back first looking for the leak.

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

Gents,

Thanks for the info! I follow you on a bad bearing possibly causing the noise. What leads you to think I have a brake leak if my fluid levels are good?

I'm not very tech-savvy. (I can pull a wheel off and look under there.) Where is the bearing retaining nut? How can I check to see if the bearings are bad? How do I check for a brake leak?

Thanks again!
Bill

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

I'm looking at replacement wheel bearings on RockAuto. Apparently, some are for cars with a performance package and others aren't.

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/p...l+bearing,1672

Is the performance package they are talking about 1LE or WS6? (My car is WS6 but not 1LE.)

I'm assuming I need a front outer bearing and a front inner bearing for both the driver's side and the passenger's side. Is that correct? Are there any other parts that need to be replaced at the same time? Are there any other parts you recommend I replace at the same time for preventative maintenance?

I've had bad luck with some aftermarket parts before. So, unless you guys recommend otherwise, I plan to go with AC Delco replacements. Are there are any upgraded bearings I can purchase that will give me better performance?

Thanks again!
Bill

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Because in your 1st post you said this, "Also, my brake fluid is well below the minimum level."

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

And because you said this.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

Answering your other questions:

The outer wheel bearing is behind the dust cap in the center of the wheel hub. The inner bearing is inside the rear of the rotor(side closest to the engine).

1LE is the Camaro performance package code. WS6 is the Firebird/Trans Am/GTA performance package code. Don't worry about the 1LE, you don't have it since you have a Trans Am/GTA.

Replacing the bearing is pretty simple with only basic tools required. Should be able to find a good video on YouTube, or pick up one of the Chilton's/Haynes repair manuals at your local parts store. They will explain it well enough if you've never done one before.

As for replacing the bearings on both sides of the front, it's not really required to do them at the same time. But, given the age of these cars you might as well do it while you have the tools out.

To find a brake leak, all you usually need to do is look. It'll be dripping somewhere. Sometimes it helps to have someone pressing on the brake pedal.

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

Holy cow, what a typo. I'm sorry. I meant to say "well above the minimum level." That's why I'm confused as to why the brakes feel softer.

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for your response! I might tackle the bearings myself. Where do you like to place your jackstands under the front of the car? The only jackpoint I've been able to find is the center of the K member.

I know they made 1LE Firebirds and Camaros, and that they had different brakes, no AC, etc. It's my understanding it's the next performance package above WS6 for the Firebirds.

Source:
http://www.firebirdnation.com/forums...res-all-years/

My car is a WS6, but not a 1LE. So my question is, do I need different wheel bearings because my car is a WS6? Rock Auto indicates cars with a performance package (unsure if the performance package means WS6 or 1LE) need different bearings. If anyone has an AC Delco part number, I'd GREATLY appreciate it!

Is there an aftermarket higher performance version of the wheel bearings available?

Now that I've clarified I don't have a brake fluid issue (sorry about the typo), what could cause my brakes to feel soft?

Thanks again!
Bill

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Performance pkg = 1LE

WS6 = normal car, same as the vast majority

Set 6 & set 34 if memory serves; can't recall the seal # off the top of my head

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

The best spot for the jack in the front is under the k member. I usually put the stands under the control arms, but my stands look kind of like a "U" on top that the edge of the spring pocket fits perfectly down into for a secure mount. I've also had luck placing them under the front frame rails on one side of the oval cut outs under the floor pans. It's just behind the trans bellhousing. If you look under there, you'll see what I mean. Don't straddle the cutout, put the side of the frame rail right in the middle of the seat on top of the stand, so the weight of the car is on the vertical side of the frame rail, not the bottom of it.

wgripp

iTrader: (1)

Thanks again for all of the inputs.

Any ideas on the brakes?

What are set 6 and set 34? Do I need to purchase seals in addition to the bearings?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Set 6 and Set 34 are the part #s. Some lines call them A-6 & A-34.

Yes you'll need a seal for each side as well. Might be part # 8871.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

On the brakes, can you be more specific - is the pedal going down farther than it used to before they grab, can you push it to the floor, or does it feel like you're stepping on a wet sponge. Each of those will indicate a different problem.