Grinding/humming sound...NOT wheel bearing???
 

That's right. I have an all-time humming/growling sound coming from the driver's side front that has been steadily getting louder. It doesn't matter if I turn the wheels, the sound remains the same. I just spent a few hours replacing the wheel hub/bearing.

Went out for a test drive...same sound. Could it be the half shaft? Please don't say differential.... :cry:

Thanks for any advice/help.

Check the strut tower bearing, drive over a speed bump steering wheel straight then left and right. Does the noise increase?
The diff is on the passenger side so I think your ok?

I suppose there is no chance that it could be your pneumatic self-leveling pump running? Hmmm?

Automatic Level Control compressor is located right rear quarter.

No kidding!? Must be thinking of my '92. I'm going to have to look again.
Sorry about the ill thought-out advice. :oops:

Having noise from same driverside front wheel. Can hear a lot
at low speed like parking.

Today I took my car to the dealer & they adv the problem was a bad hub.
So they replaced the bearing assmbly & hit me for $468.

So tonight parking the car at walgreens I hear the noise on the passenger side
& turned the radio down & heard it on driverside. :explode:

& now that I hear on both sides I'm not sure what it is.............

Nono, it's a constant whirring just like a bad wheel bearing, but I replaced it, and it's still doing it. I guess my question is what is the next bearing in the drivetrain that would be growling like that?

Let me add to this since the last message was from my cell phone. :P

It's a constant whirring that increases in volume and pitch as I increase speed, then decreases in volume and pitch as I decrease speed, just like a bad wheel bearing.

However, I replaced the wheel bearing, and it's still doing it. Would the passenger side wheel bearing telegraph over to the driver's side? I wouldn't think so.

Would the differential make a growling bearing noise if it was going bad?

Anyone? :?

Anyone know where I can find an exploded view of the drivetrain on the driver's side, perhaps?

From my own experience both wheel bearings can go at the same time. I had a similar situation and replaced the side that seemed to be the culpirt.. then test drive and said "WTH".. clearly the side changed was bad, as was the other side too.

I'd say pull and check it out.

That's where I'm at at the moment, especially since I like to replace like parts in pairs anyway. I'll keep ya posted. :wink:

Let me tell you about a seemingly silly test I did to determine where a similar noise was coming from on my '92 Bonne. I was sure I was hearing a wheel hub bearing going South but I could not tell which wheel it was coming from.

Using some Yankee engine-uity I duct taped, in turn, (don't you just love that stuff) a micro palm voice recorder to each wheel assembly. Can't remember exactly where but as I recall it was no problem to find a spot. Anyway I started with the driver's side, turned the little feller to RECORD and took her for a ride down the street and back. For the second run I taped the recorder to the passenger side. Finally I listened to each recording. I could definitely tell then which hub was the culprit by comparing the volumn and type of noise generated from each side.

Worked for me!

Replaced the right wheel bearing...that was it. Sounds gone! :D

I had to get out the hack saw to take the sucker off, and then the bearing came apart trying to convince it to come out, but I saved the top bolt!! :P

from my experience when i was a mechanic, sometimes its very difficult to determine which side wheel bearing is making the noise, sometimes one will be making noise but the other side will have play in it.. other times you would swear the noise was from one side but its really from the other.. somehow the sound reaches a harmonic and transfers and aplifies across the car.. tricky little bastards.

Probably stating the obvious, but how 'bout the tires? They can really set up a rumble if they're cupped. :roll:

Nah, I hear nothing but whisper now that I've changed the right hub assembly. :wink: