- Jul 25, 2012
- 20
Hello. This issue may have been previously addressed by others.
I just started snooping through the forums for more info.
I am not a mechanical genius, but can do some vehicle repairs myself, so please bear with me as I try to explain what's going on with my baby.
I was driving my 2006 trailblazer ls (6cyl 4.3) during heavy rain and drove through some water that was easily up to the tops of the tires.
About a week after, I noticed what feels like grinding or scraping vibration through the steering wheel.
I figure water got in something it shouldn't have. (genius, eh?)
Which seal, I'm uncertain.
If anything below sounds familiar or like a 'common' problem with the trailblazer LS drivetrain, please enlighten me
I can't hear anything louder from either side of the front with windows open.
I inspected the rotors and brakes all around and all seem fine.
In neutral coasting the vibration doesn't change, so RPM isn't affecting this issue. So I'm ruling out an engine issue. (genius again?)
The scraping or grinding vibration seems to be more noticeable at below 35 or so.
When I steer left to right and right to left quickly, it seems that the noise/vibration is more noticeable for a couple of seconds as the weight of the vehicle shifts.
It's not a wobble or side to side bounce on the steering wheel (like a bent rim).
It's a constant scraping/grinding feeling as if you were scraping a file on a rotor the entire time is the best description of what I feel through the steering wheel. Or what I would guess rusty no lubricated parts would feel/sound like. To determine which ones is the dilemma with my limited knowledge of these vehicles.
Now, there are only so many things that could go wrong with the front end. Only so many parts/seals that could get water in them. I'm HOPING it's a wheel bearing on the driver's side that went bad. But, I also am wondering how a sealed bearing would go bad.
The vehicle has almost 61K miles.
Am I looking at a bearing issue or something much more spendy in the driveline?
Or I suppose the better question is what might be wrong?
Any suggestions on how to moderately easily eliminate certain front end parts as the problem would be appreciated as well.
Thanks so much for any insights.
Steve
I just started snooping through the forums for more info.
I am not a mechanical genius, but can do some vehicle repairs myself, so please bear with me as I try to explain what's going on with my baby.
I was driving my 2006 trailblazer ls (6cyl 4.3) during heavy rain and drove through some water that was easily up to the tops of the tires.
About a week after, I noticed what feels like grinding or scraping vibration through the steering wheel.
I figure water got in something it shouldn't have. (genius, eh?)
Which seal, I'm uncertain.
If anything below sounds familiar or like a 'common' problem with the trailblazer LS drivetrain, please enlighten me

I can't hear anything louder from either side of the front with windows open.
I inspected the rotors and brakes all around and all seem fine.
In neutral coasting the vibration doesn't change, so RPM isn't affecting this issue. So I'm ruling out an engine issue. (genius again?)
The scraping or grinding vibration seems to be more noticeable at below 35 or so.
When I steer left to right and right to left quickly, it seems that the noise/vibration is more noticeable for a couple of seconds as the weight of the vehicle shifts.
It's not a wobble or side to side bounce on the steering wheel (like a bent rim).
It's a constant scraping/grinding feeling as if you were scraping a file on a rotor the entire time is the best description of what I feel through the steering wheel. Or what I would guess rusty no lubricated parts would feel/sound like. To determine which ones is the dilemma with my limited knowledge of these vehicles.
Now, there are only so many things that could go wrong with the front end. Only so many parts/seals that could get water in them. I'm HOPING it's a wheel bearing on the driver's side that went bad. But, I also am wondering how a sealed bearing would go bad.
The vehicle has almost 61K miles.
Am I looking at a bearing issue or something much more spendy in the driveline?
Or I suppose the better question is what might be wrong?
Any suggestions on how to moderately easily eliminate certain front end parts as the problem would be appreciated as well.
Thanks so much for any insights.
Steve