Wobbly wheel - CV problem?

[SpeedJunkie]

Hey guys,

Drove dad's Pulsar for the first time in a few days and heard a pulsating noise coming from the front. Had a look today, and the right front wheel wobbles ie. I had the car on a jack and when I shake the wheel, it wobbles. The wheel is on nice and tight, and the other wheels don't have the same behaviour. Could this be a CV joint problem? Any way I can check the CV? How much should I expect to be charged to replace it?

[carazy]

More likely a suspension or ball joint issue.
If the CV joint goes the wheel doesn't wobble when it's jacked up.

Outer cv joints tend to make a clicking noise round corners but don't effect the steering/handling eventually they sound like a set of ball bearings in a milo tin.
Inner cv joints can be scary though because the car goes from driving nicely to a pulsing hard pull to the effected side and then back to normal very quickly.. scared the crap out of me when it happended in my telstar turbo of yor...

[hotgemini]

Wheel bearing, ball joint in that order.

[carazy]

Derrr.... :Hit's self for forgetting wheel bearing:

[SpeedJunkie]

thanks. are they easy to replace, or should i take it to the shop? how much do they usually cost (roughly)? 2000 Pulsar ST if that helps

[SpeedJunkie]

oh, and is there a way to test them? i wouldn't want to spend money on replacing them if they're not the problem :)

[Jim]

by jacking the car up then grabbing thge wheel and trying to move it in a diagonal fashion is the only test. if it moves, then it's broken with a capital "F". if you stick your head behind there you'll see if it's a ball joint or wheel bearing. on front wheel drive cars the wheelbearings require the use of a hydraulic press, so only a workshop can really do this. either way it's gonna need a wheel alignment when done.

[SpeedJunkie]

hrm.. ok, workshop it is :(

thanks for the help guys :)