Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Confirming wheelbearing problem

After running around from shop to shop for 2 months not able to pin point the problem, let alone fixing it, it only took 2 days to get from this forum a bunch of good advices that nailed it!

Based on what you guys suggested, I managed to find a pair of sympathetic ears in a Sears service supervisor. ("yeah, yeah, it sure sound like it's the bearing, ... I think you're right, it has to be the bearing...") ;-)

The noise is now gone. The car drive smoothly on the road. Total cost for putting in a new bearing (labor & part): $106. And to borrow from the Visa ad: "... to have found a place for sound advice, priceless!"

Thank you very much!

If you have an automatic transmission the noise could be the rear transmission mount sagging. The transmission case will bump and/or vibrate against the engine carriage a little. Right engine dampener will vibrate when it goes - metal to metal contact that will change pitch. In the left wheel well look through the opening between the transmission and the power rack. The dampener is kind of like a donut with a star shaped rubber isolator attached between the engine block and the engine carriage. If the bolt is no longer in the center the rubber is broken and there is a big noise maker that will change with speed and how the vehicle is riding.