How to tell if wheel bearing or ball joint is bad?, Updated! Options

[GriffGirl]

There are bad, evil, rubbing/grinding noises (sounds dirty heh heh) coming from my rear passenger wheel. Actually it sounds like the backing plate is rubbing against the rotor, but I'm pretty certain that's not what's going on. The sound is definitely related to the rotation of the wheel; it's louder when I go slower too although that could just be because there's less road noise to drown out the sound. The noise sounds not unlike when brake pads are completely worn and it's metal on metal - it's that grinding noise, not a squealing or high pitched noise at all. It's really loud from the driver's side though, I can only imagine what it sounds like outside the car!

I'm leaning toward bad wheel bearing but I wanted to check with you guys first to get some tips and ideas before I go buying the wrong part.

This post has been edited by GriffGirl: Feb 2, 2009 - 12:11 PM

[LewFX]

a broken end link would make popping sounds, might as well check that too, make sure the nuts tight on both ends

[GriffGirl]

a broken end link would make popping sounds, might as well check that too, make sure the nuts tight on both ends

Would those popping sounds be louder than sh*t if it were combined with blown struts? There were popping sounds, like something popping in and out of whatever it would seat to. I know that's not how endlinks work, but it's the best way to describe the sound before it made the awful Satan Spawning From My Car sound.

Mister Richee - I may need to hit you up for more parts depending on what I find tomorrow. Plz check your PMs tomorrow nt if you're able to. thx!