When going foward today we started hearing this sound from the passenger side of front end, it kindof sounded like a gringing sound, so we took off the front wheel and looked at the brake pads thinking that there may have been a rock stuck in it. nothing. put it back together and started to drive again and heard it again so I brought it back home and parked it.

A little background about today, we drove approx 400 miles before we started hearing the noise.

Could it be a wheel bearing?
There is a little play in the tire from top to bottom. and a little side to side.
Anything else it might be?

I drove it tonight after it had plenty of time to cool down and didnt hear any noise but I only drove for about a mile or so.

Had the same thing happen to mine just before Christmas. I didn't have time to look at it as ?I was about to move to Darwin so took it the shop down the road. It was the anti rattle shields for the brake pads. They had come loose. I toio thought I had done a bearing. All fixed no more noise.

I've actually got the same thing going on right now. I was thinking it might be a wheel bearing too, but the anti-rattle clip sounds more plausible because I've noticed that the noise goes away when I apply the brakes, and returns when I let off. I haven't had the chance to check it out yet because it's too darn cold here right now.

On this one, if I get on the brakes when it is happening, the noise is still there until the vehicle stops.

Wheel bearings or partly engaged hub most likely. Can also be the tire on that side so first cheap and easy thing to do is to rotate tires front to back, check the balance of the front wheel too. Out of balance wheel = abnormal wear = cyclical noise.

well I tore it all apart, I found the problem, there is a set of needle bearings inside the hub, Mine were in peices. I took out the rear seal and got it all cleaned up and tried to put the new seal in . It wont go. So ......................its off to pick n pull for me. I am going to go and get another hub assembly, tie rod assemblies and ball joints if they are good. I wont be taking the rear seal out again. Thats for sure.

Needle bearing was going to be my guess. Mine disintegrated on me on the way home one night in the middle of a snowstorm. Made a heckuva noise until it totally destroyed itself, then it was quiet again.

I just replaced those needle bearings on mine. The bearings had rusted solid. The rear seal went in real easy. The main problem was getting it out without distorting it. If you distorted it, you will have to get new seals. You will probably have to get them from a dealer or www.kiaparts.com will have them. I don't think you can get them from any generic auto parts store though. I had to get the bearings from www.kiaparts.com. You might as well order the bearings and seals together. It wasn't much for the bearings though. About $10.00 if I remember right.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

My wrecking yard had 2 sporty's but they both were 2wd. so I am off to the dealer to get the seal, I think I am going to get 2 of them so I can replace the bearings at another time. They dont have them in stock or I would do them now. I will have to order the bearings and have them shipped to my door.

www.kiaparts.com is in WA. You might check with them.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />