i have a 2004 grand am that is making a grinding noise in the front end, i think it is a cv shaft but it dosen't seem to be loose. how can i tell if it is bad? both wheel bearings have been recently replaced along with pads and rotors. any help would be great. :banghead:

Jack up the car and support it with jack stands.

Move the wheel around and see if you can isolate the noise.

Could just be your new brake pads grinding...

Does it do it all the time ?
Or while turning or straight ?

Or Does it go away when you push the brakes?
or get worse ?

same noise before pads and rotors were replaced and pushing the brakes changes nothing. noise is intermittent and only occurs at speeds over 30 mph, worse when turning left but will do it stright or right. i have had the car jacked up several times but i cant find anything loose or worn.

CV joints dont usually make grinding noises.

More of a clunking and when you back up and turn it can make the car shake back and forth while clinkin.

Sounds more like a bad hub bearing assesmbly.
How long ago were they replaced?
And what brand were they ?

Also if an impact tool was used on the asembly when you installed the new bearings you can damage the wheel speed sensor thats build into the hub bearing unit.

one was replaced about three months ago (car quest) the other about three weeks ago (napa) .

If they were made in CHINA then they very well could be bad already.

The only other thing I can think of is the brake pads are on backwards. The wear indicator goes on the inside of the rotors.

it was the wheel bearing thanks for the help my girl friend thanks you too. put a timkin bearing in this time seems to be good as new.

Great !
Timkin is the better of the hub available.
thier is a cheapo' chinese model, that usualy fails quick!