super6

iTrader: (5)

im getting a whining or low thumping noise when driving, the noise gets faster as the car accelerates and sounds like its comming from underneath front wheel. im guessing wheel bearing right?

did that wiggle test and the wheel does move a bit if held a 12 and 6 o'clock. is there suposed to be a little play in it or should be rock solid? moves equally on both sides. it also moves at 9 and 3 but i think that just cause the steering alows it to move. thanx.

PAREDLINE

there should be no play at 12 and 6. If there is play check your ball joint as well but by the sound you describe it's probably the wheel bearing.

FriscoMaxima

iTrader: (1)

mine moves noticeably at 12 and 6 o'clock....

khynex

iTrader: (1)

wheel bearing....2 check this better remove ur tire and rotor. If u have play on the hub then its a wheel bearing and u should also replace the hub(which is what the wheel bearing goes on).

Mind u 2 replace a wheelbearing u need a hyd. press

PAREDLINE

How hard are you pushing and in what plane? If you push up and down you might get movement from the suspension.

If you push away from you with the 12 o-clock hand and towards you with the 6 o-clock hand and get movement, there is pathology.

next thing to do would be to do this while a friend or someone suitable looks at your balljoint. If you still feel movement but your balljoint is solid on the control arm, then its either wheel bearings or possibly your strut/strut mount.

open the hood. Look at the top mount. through the engine bay and have someone try to move the wheel in the plane described above. If the middle nut on the top suspension mount moves, its a bad mount.

If you drive in an area like NYC with bumps and potholes, chances are your wheel bearings take a pounding and fail.

Sometimes you get dudes who dont tighten the center nut on struts too well, so they contribute to loosening and elongatation of the hole on the mount- thus contributing to movement.

NYC bumps are a killer. Its like the road crews do work on the highways and then don't think their work is accomplished unless they leave an asphalt speed bump on the middle of the LIE.

super6

iTrader: (5)

would u get a steering wheel vibration along with a bad bearing? cause i feel like the car drives perfectly, just that anoying sound. how long can i go before replacing it and how much they cost anyway? thanx.

VaporHead

Yes, you will get some steering wheel vibration. I took my ride to the mechanic who also verified my front right bearing is getting bad. I do not however, have any noise coming from mine. This happened after my wife smack a curb. BAHHH!! I wish it could be something I could fix myself, but I do not have a press to get the bearing out. Though it is super cheap to just have a local machine shop press it out. Sooner or later I will get to that.

MAXRB8

iTrader: (19)

Your description sounds like wheel bearing, I didn't have real noticable vibration when mine were needed to be changed.

PAREDLINE

I would definitely change them before the winter

ajahearn

iTrader: (3)

Another possibility, if you rotated the tires (or changed them) recently you should check for worn spots. Sorry if this was obvious. Hope it helps.