My '94 Geo Metro is making grinding noises when I turn.

June 9, 2004 5:19 PM

Since I can't get through at Cartalk, here I am: '94 Geo Metro (no power steering), manual trans. When making a turn, an unbearable grinding noise ovetakes my senses and absconds with my driving pleasure. It continues for a few seconds after the turn. Thanks in advance, and be brutally honest if you think it's a pricey fix.
posted by moonbird to travel & transportation (11 comments total)

I know nothing about cars except when that happend to my Honda I found out it was the CV joints. My friends and I gave it a name: the clicker. I told people it was to help the sight impaired know that I was turning.

And CV stands for Constant Velocity. That is all I know about cars.

My car was totaled before I got it fixed. I just remember it cost more to fix than I had.
posted by birdherder at 5:31 PM on June 9, 2004

Wanna stick your head under the car and check that the rubber booties over the CV joint are still intact?
posted by five fresh fish at 5:49 PM on June 9, 2004

Sure, Moonbird, get a new car. Blame everything on Ray!

Seriously, though, it does sound a lot like the joints; it's not very expensive to replace. It's not uncommon for that to happen, especially in the case of subcompact cars with front-wheel drive mechanisms. Some TLC from your trusty mechanic, and you're good to go!
posted by Smart Dalek at 6:09 PM on June 9, 2004

It sounds more like the CV axle carrier bearing to me. A CV joint usually makes a clattering noise, not a grinding noise.

I had the driver's side bearing replaced on a Plymouth Horizon back in the mid-80's, and it cost about $500, labor included.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:22 PM on June 9, 2004

My brother's nameless Toyota pickup had the exact same problem with the CV joint, and I can imagine exactly the sound you're describing--definitely a grinding, not a clicking--and if that is what it indeed is, it is pricey, due to labor. I do not remember the exact number, but I think it would have to be at least about $500 for him to complain as much as he did about it.
posted by Hildago at 6:28 PM on June 9, 2004

Having dropped a pair of front-wheel drive axles to replace the CV bootie, I strongly recommend that it be done by a shop. The procedure was easy enough and went well, but it took hours and was really much more work than it was worth.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:21 PM on June 9, 2004

I disagree with fff. I've done it on four cars, never had a problem, always went fast. However-- I've always dropped the entire half-axle off at a machine shop for a new bearings and new/remanufactured cages.

But I also think that "grinding" is an in-between symptom. If it's a clickclickclick, it's definitely the joint. If it's a whine, you're looking at possibly running a dry power-steering pump. You've checked the fluid level, I presume?

Also-- always repair/replace suspension and steering parts in pairs. When one goes, the other isn't far behind.
posted by trharlan at 8:37 PM on June 9, 2004

Doing some quick blue book math, you may want to note that your Geo is perilously close to being "totalled" if this repair costs more than the $500 mentioned above.

It may me time to take ol' yeller out back...
posted by falconred at 10:49 PM on June 9, 2004

We have the very same car.
I don't know about a grinding sound, but if it's more of a squealing sound, then it might be that your belts are loose - apparently this is something that happens often in this year/model of car. When the belts are loose or old it will squeal when starting up and when going around corners. It's a quick fix though. supposedly you can do it yourself by adjusting a nut somewhere, but my mechanic just did it for me for free.

And, of course, if it is more of a grinding than a squealing then I've just given you info you can't use, sorry.
posted by soplerfo at 7:01 AM on June 10, 2004

my wife had an older Geo Metro, like 89 or something, that had a grinding problem with the brakes after the pads wore down. fwiw...
posted by Sean Meade at 8:48 AM on June 10, 2004

Thanks all. I just had the brakes replaced a few weeks ago, and my car doesn't have power steering so that theory is shot. But, I'll take it to a mechanic tomorrow and will post who wins the toaster for the lucky guess.
posted by moonbird at 10:00 AM on June 10, 2004