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[Snyperx]

When will my issues end So I was driving home from work and heard a slight "whrrrr" sound coming from the rear. As I changed speed the pitch seemed to change. It seems more noticeable at around 40 mph. I took the car up to 60 mph and put the car in neutral and could still hear the "whrrrr" sound. My car is about to click over to 85k miles.

My initial diagnosis is wheel bearing. Can anyone else provide some thoughts? Thanks.

[Braumin]

If you turn the wheel left and right, the pitch should change as the wheel bearing is loaded and unloaded. It might just be your tires.

[Snyperx]

Originally Posted by Braumin

If you turn the wheel left and right, the pitch should change as the wheel bearing is loaded and unloaded. It might just be your tires.

I should add that the sound doesn't seem to change when I am driving on different road surfaces. I had planned to put on my summer tires to see if that helped or at minimum swap the left and right rear tire.

[vapore0n]

Try tires first. Especially if you have summer tires available for a quick test.

I once had tires that sounded like bad wheel bearings. I was told it was the tires but I didnt listen, as the tires had plenty of meat on them. I replaced both front bearings and the noise just didnt go away and became worse over time ( I never aligned the car after the bearing change)

[sammy_0559]

got the same noise from a loose track bar the washer was vibrating while driving make sure all the control arms and bars connecting to the knuckle are tight before you change the bearing.

[Braumin]

Originally Posted by Snyperx

I should add that the sound doesn't seem to change when I am driving on different road surfaces. I had planned to put on my summer tires to see if that helped or at minimum swap the left and right rear tire.

Just start by weaving your car left and right to see if the pitch changes. If it doesn't, it's unlikely to be the wheel bearing.

[Snyperx]

Originally Posted by vapore0n

Try tires first. Especially if you have summer tires available for a quick test.

I once had tires that sounded like bad wheel bearings. I was told it was the tires but I didnt listen, as the tires had plenty of meat on them. I replaced both front bearings and the noise just didnt go away and became worse over time ( I never aligned the car after the bearing change)

I hope it is just my Blizzak tires and not the bearings. Its odd though that it just started out of the blue.

[07lilredwagon]

Jack it up safely in the rear...spin the tire. you should hear it moaning a bit if its the bearing...you can also feel it if you put a little pressure on the wheel and rotate it back and forth....it will feel...well, unsmooth if its bad enough.

Most wheel bearings seem to make noise around the 40 mph mark for some reason when they start to go...then, as they get worse, the noise happens sooner and sooner, like 30, then 20 mph....then its REALLY time to change them!

Jacking the car up rules out tire noise....if its on jack stands, you can see if there are any loose parts in the suspension by pushing things around...though this will only show larger problems...its a start.

JP

[Snyperx]

Well I weaved back and forth on my way to get the kids from school and you can really hear when you turn the wheel to the right. My son actually whats that noise? He sits in the rear passenger side.

[07lilredwagon]

Originally Posted by Snyperx

Well I weaved back and forth on my way to get the kods from school and you can really hear when you turn the wheel to the right.

Drivers side rear wheel bearing is my guess...bearing has a load on it at that point....


JP

[Snyperx]

Originally Posted by 07lilredwagon

Drivers side rear wheel bearing is my guess...bearing has a load on it at that point....


JP

Driver side? Wouldn't rear passenger have load when steering to the right?? I am confused

[thecadman99]

Driver side is correct. When you turn right, the car's weight shifts to the left, putting more strain on the left side of the car.

[smass]

I had a bad rear wheel bearing a few years ago. Turning the wheel did nothing for me. The only way to pinpoint the noise was to jack the rear up on jack stands, turn off stability control by holding button for 5 seconds, have a friend run the rear wheels up to 40 or so. Use a mechanics stethoscope to probe where the ABS sensor wire goes into the hub.

The bearing is right behind the sensor. If one side is louder than the other you have found it. Don't be surprised if it is the passenger side. It is tough to tell where it is coming from on the inside.

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-52500-Me.../dp/B0002SQYSM

If you change it yourself, make sure and put the correct side in the hub. One side of the bearing acts as the tone ring for the ABS sensor. Put it in wrong and you get a warning light and need to do the job a second time.

[Snyperx]

UPDATE: Well I swapped my Winter tires for the Summer tires. During that process before taking the wheel off I grabbed each wheel at 12/6 and 9/3 and pus/pulled at each position. The rear passenger wheel had a bit of play in it. Specifically it had play if I push/pulled from the 12 o'clock position.

Would it be safe to assume that I have found my bad wheel bearing in the rear passenger side??

[hxs80]

the same passenger rear went out on mine at around 50k

[Snyperx]

Originally Posted by hxs80

the same passenger rear went out on mine at around 50k

Did you replace both bearings then?

[07lilredwagon]

what did the play in the wheel feel like?...does the wheel spin smoothly when you push on it and turn it?...silly question...but are the lug nuts tight?...sorry...a bit obvious...

Did the sound change when you swapped tires, or is it the same?....

JP

[Snyperx]

Originally Posted by 07lilredwagon

what did the play in the wheel feel like?...does the wheel spin smoothly when you push on it and turn it?...silly question...but are the lug nuts tight?...sorry...a bit obvious...

Did the sound change when you swapped tires, or is it the same?....

JP

The play felt like a click. Very slight. The play was when I did the push/pull at the 12 o'clock position. Could not rotate tire since the car was in park and only had one rear tire off the ground at a time. Wheel lugs were fully torqued to 89ft/lbs. Very slight play. I did not have a "chance to drive the car after swapping tires.

[Spy021]

At the dealership now for the same reason. I thought it was the front passenger bearing that might have been going, but come to find out it is the passenger rear. I hear that it's a huge PITA to DIY the rear bearing and the dealership wants $530 to replace it (1 side only).

[Denny347]

Originally Posted by Spy021

At the dealership now for the same reason. I thought it was the front passenger bearing that might have been going, but come to find out it is the passenger rear. I hear that it's a huge PITA to DIY the rear bearing and the dealership wants $530 to replace it (1 side only).

Rears are a PITA. I had my driver rear replaced at the dealer at 70k mi. The fronts are cake. I replaced BOTH a few weeks ago in about 2 hrs.

[Chris_506]

id do it at an independent shop, is not a job thats out of this world you simply need some tools only a shop will have. if you go that route i have 1 rear bearing kit thats brand new that i wont need will ship it for $70

[Snyperx]

Originally Posted by SCSRe92

id do it at an independent shop, is not a job thats out of this world you simply need some tools only a shop will have. if you go that route i have 1 rear bearing kit thats brand new that i wont need will ship it for $70

I'd be interested in the rear bearing kit. My rear bearings came in yesterday.