Hi there, new guy with my first 4th gen Camaro.

I bought it a week ago with 125k miles. In general in a much better shape than my SN95.

Unfortunately I noticed a noise today which I didn't hear during the test-drive. I am reading and watching several videos and still unsure.

Only during low speed turns I hear the grinding noise. High speed turns I don't hear it.

On a straight line I don't hear anything unusual but I am new with this car.

So I hope it's the wheel bearing but it seems also that it could be the differential.

Sorry if this has been covered before. I couldn't find it here yet so far.

Any thoughts?

 

Other than the above issues I am very happy with it...

 

Does it have a limited slip (posi) differential?
If so it requires an additive (posi lube) to the oil or oil that already has it.
They will get noisy and cranky without it.

 

Apparently some do and don't. I will have a look into it.

Thanks for the reply.

 

Changed the differential oil 2 weeks ago and unfortunately the noise is still there. I used the lube specific for LSD since it won't harm an open one.

Not sure however if it's a LSD or open diff.

I could tell it hasn't been changed for a while. But the differential looked fine. No damages or anything.

You know this sound when a VC joint is worn out on front wheel driven car? That's exactly how it sounds.

If anyone recognise this...I suspect a bearing.

 

did you see any metal shavings in the diff oil? do you have the two piece driveshaft?

 

No metal shavings. Some sludge at the magnet but I have seen metal shavings on my Ford LTD so I know how it looks like.

In the meantime I found here other related topics but they were all more than 10 years old. (Old car's &#129335

And I figured it's a open differential. 2 piece driveshaft.

Now you make me wonder if it's maybe the driveshaft.

But then again the noise is loudest while making left turns. Noise coming from the right side.

In the older topics there was another similar case

 

Now...after collected some more info...

The spider gear is making the noise. Question is, how long can I drive with it before it becomes a serious problem?

 

should go a while if you baby it. cant say for sure how long, louder it gets the worse it is.

 

Now it gets interesting...

Took my mechanic for a ride to see if he could recognize the noise..

​​​​​​ It looks like the balance weights on the rim are touching the brake caliper in the left turn. However we were not sure about the marks/traces but.... He was sure it's not the wheel bearing or the differential. In some way I am relieved.

But some other concern showed up. The sparkplugs...

Probably Never changed. I couldn't remove the first one and I stopped because I had to use too much force which didn't feel right.

​​​​​​I will use some anti seizure oil and leave it overnight. Hopefully it will work.