PoePoe2797

What are some common signs of a wheel bearing gone bad? What noises do your hear and when? Can you feel it? Is there any diagnostic test to prove 100% it's a bearing.

Reason I ask is I get a slight humming usually around 35mph and 65 mph. It's not the tranny because if I push the clutch in, the humming is still there. I was told maybe the tires but not too sure. Thanks

PoePoe2797

Ttt 12345678

Jatan

iTrader: (3)

Check for play in the wheels

jguillory

If it's a front bearing, you'll hear a low rumbling noise, especially if you're moving forward at speed, and turn the wheels slightly (like changing lanes or going around a decent curve at a relatively high speed).

Way to tell for sure is to jack up the car, grab the wheel at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions - they try and pull out/push in. If there's play in the wheel at all, the hub bearing is probably bad. Could be other suspension components too, though...

NISMO808

iTrader: (2)

Do you hear humming that sounds like a mix between road noise and a wwII bomber?

PRPmax

The noise will definelty come from the front. It'll sound a lot like road noise. You can hear it when driving straight or making turns;kinda like a cv axle but without that popping sound. If you really want to check for yourself, jack the car up and see how much play there is with the wheel. You'll notice your wheel feels loose.

PoePoe2797

I'm not sure what your talking about the bomber noise but it's nothing like what was mentioned here. The noise I hear isn't too noticable, but I drove my dads Maxima and his does not do it. It's more like a slight humming at 35 and 65 mph...i can sorta feel it also, but im not too sure...it just may be my body expecting to feel it. Like I said, it doesn't matter at RPM I'm at...its only at 35 and 65 that I can notice it.

PRPmax

it could also do with your tires.. If they are balding or have unusual tread wear that can cause that type of noise also.

PoePoe2797

Well about the tires, I dont know if they were mounted right....like the tires are the same but like the outside of the right tire doesnt match the outside of the left and vice versa with the inside. To clarify, the outside of the right is the inside of the left instead of the outside. So one of the tires might be mounted wrong but I asked someone and they said that it shouldnt matter with non directional tires. And when I checked the tires, neither of the sides said "Mount this side out" ....they are Dunlops (dont the the specific)

PoePoe2797

Anyone know?

spiff56747

iTrader: (-1)

if the tires are unidirectional then its fine

maxcross

if it's a metal on metal rubbing noise, it can be hub bearing or cv. I've replaced axle, bearing, struts, strut mounts, and rotors. Noise is still there. I've been told that it is probably a bad axle that I bought, but I've my reserves. Multiple symptoms bother me, for example: metal on metal sound at high speed lane changes or turns due to upward force put on the wheel causing the axle to not be parallel to the ground (after dropping the car 1.5", it's almost all the time now), excessive amounts of pedal feel, and what feels like a hard vibration when braking from high speeds (almost like a shimmy, possibly cv joint having lots of play). I've looked into the brakes being the problem, but since it's not a constant rubbing, but moreso a once-per-rotation problem similar to warped rotors, and since it was existing pre and post rotor replacement, I've ruled that out. It's really odd, but I'm going to look into the axle again. On a side note, every part that I've replaced (axle, bearing, rotors, and struts/strut mounts) needed replacing, so it wasn't exactly pointless, just irritating due to all the labor involved.

WaarrEagle

iTrader: (1)

When my front wheel bearing went out in December all I got was LOUD metal on metal scraping sound and it would only happen ever other time I drove the car and only once it heated up. It sounded like my brakes but they were fine. There was no humming or any other noise when turning and there wasn't any play in the wheel. My mechanic replaced the wheel bearing and the noise was fixed.

mingus2112

how much did your mechanic charge to do the wheel bearings? my 99 max is at my mechanic's AS WE SPEAK for those symptoms. (LOUD sound like a WWII bomber. . .only when the car's warmed up. . .only every other time i drive it. . .) The difference is that this is happening on the front driver's side AND the back passenger's side. . .so WEIRD. . .

my mechanic's pretty honest, but what should i expect to pay for this if it's the wheel bearings?

-James