Mechanic in Missoula, Mt?

[anmag]

So I'm in Missoula for about a month for work, and am looking for a good mechanic. Anyone recommend anyone?

Problem: I was driving and the car and it suddenly pulled to the right with a sort of grinding noise in the front. I pulled over and couldn't see anything. I turned around drove home and it felt fine, no noise no nothing....thought it could have been a spot where the wind had died--it was very gusty. Then turning left off the main road the front passenger wheel felt rough with that grinding noise again. Like a barring was shot. Then it felt fine again.
One problem that could be related is last month when I would break, the front end would give a crunchy sound every once in awhile.

Anyways I don't have any tools or a place to work while I'm here and don't want to drive back to Utah with this. Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[my pos mounty]

That sounds like one of two things:
1) Front wheel bearing took a dump on you or
2) CV joint took a dump on you.
With the wheel bearing, I wouldn't drive it too far like that, the wheel can literally come right off. However if it is the cv axle you could drive it some ways but not too far. With the axle, you can't break whats already broken as long as it doesn't seperate and jam on something else.
If it is the CV, you can check that visually. Go out and turn the wheel to the right and look behind the drivers side tire. If the rubber boot is in one piece, thats sides good. Then turn the wheel the opposite direction and do the same on the passenger side.
If its ripped, its gone and needs to be replaced.
I did a search for a mechanic in that area. Click me for Names, numbers and addresses.
I think you might be stuck until Monday morning, most mechanics don't work on Sundays and not many work too late on Saturday.

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EDIT: In my haste, I didnt read the date of manufacture for your rig, I don't think the 92 had CV's so ignore that and I think your issue is the wheel bearing. Its not as severe a consequence as a second gen truck, but I still would not drive it too far. A couple miles at most.
My apologies for being a donkey and not reading the date first.

 

[Vargas]

As m-p-m realized, the '92 does not have CV joints. The TTB front end is all u-joints. When they go bad, it is not usually a grinding noise - more clunk and vibration.

The wheel bearings are good place to start looking.

I think it could also be a brake caliper binding up, or possibly a bad locking hub assembly.

 

[KobeJ05]

let us know what the problem was

 

[anmag]

Thanks for all the good input. I took off the wheel last night and couldn't see anything out of the norm though I'm no mechanic. I did just convert to manual hubs myself, but they looked fine. We'll see. I'm hopefully going to take it in tomorrow and I will definitely let you know what the problem is.

 

[anmag]

Sorry for the delay, I was away for the internet working for awhile. So I took off the driver side wheel and it had a lot of play from side to side so it was the barring. I had to call a tow truck and take it in. The barring blew out and welded to the spindle. The shop had to grind it off to take it apart. It cost way too much but they did some other brake work that needed to be done too. So all together cost me $601.00. Pretty sure I could have done this myself. Oh well. Thanks again for your help.

 

[KobeJ05]

did you do one side or both sides? wheel bearings that is.