Drive line noise - can't pinpoint
 

I've got a 99' maxima 5 speed, with just over 110k. It has been on Eibach springs since the beginning. I've got this gradually worsening noise/vibration. Think of the sound a bowling ball makes on a lane as it rolls. Now take that rolling noise and pulsate it. The pulse increase with vehicle speed, and it will come and go, it isn't constant. The problem is more noticeable at low speeds and when I first start driving. I can't detect anything over 50mph.

It increases with vehicle speed - which makes me think it is either a CV joint, diff output bearing, or wheel bearing.

Upon first looking into it, I found grease slathered all over my pass wheel well. DING DING DING - bad pass. CV. So I take this past Saturday and replace it (total PITA btw). Get it all back together and the noise is still there. WTF?

Jack it up again and check the FR brakes and bearings. The hubs spin freely with no odd noises when the calipers are off. Then I find that the driver side slider pins are seized. That HAS to be it right? It took a torch to get one unstuck, but I get that fixed. Still making noise:mad:

-So, what are your guesses? The driver side CV is an 8 month old rebuilt unit. I noticed a pin hole in the boot and grease spread in a concentric circle. Could that be toast already?

-Could be the diff bearings - however the trans doesn't leak a drop.

-Wheel bearings? 110k seems a little early for that right? Hubs seem to spin nicely.

My guess here would be hubs, does seem a bit early too die but you never know with some things, one hub can go after 50k, the other last well into 250k.. *shrug*

i dont really know much about cars but i think i have the same noise when driving slow and i have eibach springs as well. someone told me it might be my shocks? not sure tho because i haven't taken it to a shop or checked myself but i hate that noise! sorry i could help more

Tread noise from your tires.

That is a very good point. The tires on the car are toast. There is some tread remaining, but the tires are 6-8 years old and dryrotted. I'll throw my winters on tonight and see if it makes a difference.

Well, I swapped on my set of winters and the noise is still therehttp://images.hondaswap.biz/images/smilies/sad.gif. I think next I'll be replacing the drivers side CV. It's only 8 months old, but the boot is already leaking. Has a lifetime warranty, so it's a free fix, and will need to be fixed down the road.

Update:

right side wheel bearing is toast. I jacked up each front corner and drove the wheels. When I did the right side it replicated the sound I've been hearing. There's a brand new cv on that side and I just checked the brakes. Gotta be the wheel bearing.

Let us know if the wheel bearing fixes it. I have a similar noise and I've just replaced both axles, the front struts, rotors, pads, and strut mounts....still there!

Got the bearings pressed in and the car all back together. Noise is gone:)