My car is producing a pretty load (and has progressively got louder the last few months) humming noise while driving. There is a very slight vibration associated with it, but not too bad. When I turn the steering wheel right, while driving, the noise completely stops but as soon as I start the wheel back to center it gets very loud again.

I had gone to Allied to get an alignment and they told me my wheel hub bearing assembly was bad and would cost me $1,500 to fix both sides so I went to my normal mechanic and asked him and he said they were fine. He said if you jack up the front end, with the wheels still bolted, and are able to shake the tire then they're bad (which mine don't).

I, however, am pretty convinced the assembly is bad...but I want to seek further advice before I pay for the part and take the time to tear it apart and fix it.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

-Jamie

Probably wheel bearings/hubs based on the way it changes when you turn. $1,500 is robbery.

Does the noise change from accelerating to decelerating, or based on road speed?

Yeah, its $63 per assembly lol.

The noise does change with acceleration/deceleration. As I speed up, it gets louder and higher pitched and as I slow down it a lot lower pitched. I checked pretty well and there is nothing rubbing underneath, to my knowledge.

To check which side. If it gets louder turning to the right it'* the left bearing. If it gets loudering turning to the left it'* the right bearing.

So, in my case, turning the wheel right causes the noise to COMPLETELY stop. That means the right side is bad?

I had that on my 2001 Bonneville, and it was a bad differential. Speed up gets louder and high pitch, slow down it gets low pitched. Maintain an even speed on the highway and noise pretty much goes away.

I hope that'* not what you have, but you need to consider the possibility. Particularly since you find no movement in the wheel assemblies when you jack the front end up, which would be an indication of bad bearings.

Bad bearings should get louder when you turn, and be quieter when going straight. You might want to take your car into a transmission shop.

I think I did a poor job at answering the question. Its not on acceleration/deceleration, but on my actually speed. I can let off the gas and the noise stays steady at what is currently is and as I naturally start slowing down, the noise gets lower. It doesn't ever stop no matter what speed I'm going, only stops when I turn right.

Turning left or driving straight, its a loud humming noise, as if my tire is rubbing against something.

Bearings, C/V joint, differential ... all possible causes. If you were going to do the work yourself, I would say start with the bearings. Since you are paying for this to get fixed, take it to a couple of shops (including a transmission shop) and have it looked at.

If it is the bearings, don't pay $1,500 or I will never speak to you again.

haha, don't worry man I won't.

Like I said, Autozone has the hub assembly for $63 each side. It appears, though I've never done them, that you just remove the tire (obviously), remove the brake caliper, remove the ABS censor then remove the hub assembly. Grease and replace. I can do that this weekend and hope that'* all it is. I don't have the money to go piece by piece so here'* to really hoping that'* all it is..