Originally posted by John Reece:
I had a whine/growl in my front end that was more apparent at speeds below 60. It was the right front wheel bearings. The easiest way to determine if it is the right front is to steer a little to the right at about 35 MPH. If the sound goes away momentarily when you do that, it is coming from the right front. You unload the right front bearings momentarily when you cut the wheels to the right thereby causing the sound to stop for that moment. Same theory will determine if the sound is coming from the left by reversing the procedure. I would be surprised if the "whump-whump" is coming from a bearing. Generally, when a bearing gets to the "whump-whump" point, you're not going anywhere.
I have same problem (98 LX 2.5) and had both front bearing changed in last 2 months. As my speed goes up to 50 -60 kph the growl/druming is quite loud and moving side to side affects the magnitude of the noise as Joh Reece has stated. this is classic bearing problem symptoms. Also as speed progresses the noise first goes away then a slight constant howl develops around 90-100 kph.
My car has 165K km and the passenger side has now been changed 4 times and the drivers side 3 times. Now what was that about service life?
I have still have the same speed dependent growling after bearing replacement (twice in last 2 months) and the local CDN Tire shop is suggesting it is rotor noise. That is a load of you know what (touching brakes does not affect level of growl) unless rotors are rubbing against something else than pads. However I will change the rotors to the top end Raybestos product from my cross drilled Brembos and then challenge them to put their labor where there 'mechanic's' mouth is. (At least they claim a lifetime guarantee). If they are right then problem solved but I doubt it will.
It cannot be diff whine (hope not)since lateral steering movement has an effect on growl/druming output.
To put it mildly the bearings seem to have an extremely short service lifespan. Since front wheel drive vehicles in general have been designed not to allow periodic greasing of the front bearings it would appear that someone needs to go back to the drawing board on this issue. Remember that all motive force as well as high side loadings are transmitted through the front bearings. I have never changed front bearings on my rear wheel drive vehicles (BMW 2002tii and 1993 Ford 350 Clubwagon), but I have changed all front wheel bearings on all my front wheel drive cars. It is either a factor of not beeing able to service them or the design of having all driving and steering forces pushed through undersize bearings.