Wheel Bearing???

[bud84ro]

I have a 2001 deville. I was sent to school for work down in Norman, Oklahoma, anyway its about 1000 mile drive and about half way here a noise started coming from the right front wheel kind of a hum reminds me of putting a baseball card in the spokes of a bicycle tire that changes directly with speed. until it is a hum by 50-80 mph. Doesn't change at all with engine RPM and I also put the car in neutral, and let it coast and the noise is still there. I had the left front bearing replaced 2 years ago, under warranty (Right at 50,000) but I never heard noise from that bearing. My car has 82000 miles on it and i would guess this is the bearing but I am not sure. Any advice on where i should take the car to not get hosed because I am an out of towner and what I can expect to pay for a wheel bearing if that is what it is. Any other ideas on what it may be would be appreciated. I don't think I should try to drive the car home with that problem what ever it is. I am here for 3 weeks

Thanks alot


Jamie

[Playdrv4me]

That is what it sounds like to me, either that or the input shaft on the transaxle. FWD cars obviously dont have a differential so the list of possibilities is not that big.

[Ranger]

A "hum" sounds like a bearing, but the baseball card in the spokes does not.

[krimson_cardnal]

What's the low end speed? Does it vary by turning wheels, lock to lock?? K_C

[bud84ro]

it will make noise around 10 -15 mph and get (Growlgrowlgrowl) and the growls getg closer and closer together the higher the speed until it is eventually a hum. I know it is a lot lower pitch that a card in spokes I feel kind of dumb for even saying it but I am nervous about it. Doesn't seem to matter if the wheels are turned or not


Thanks guys any idea what a bearing replacement would or should cost.



thankyou

jamie

[misfit6794]

The wheel bearing is housed in the hub assembly, you can not just change the bearing, you have to replace the whole thing. The part I believe is 400-500 dollars depending on where you get it. Labor is gonna be a bitttttttttttch.

[Ranger]

Last hub & bearing assembly I replaced was on my '92 Deville. It was $200 from Napa. I have heard others say that they have found them cheaper. Labor should be an hour or two, no more.

Take the car for a ride and do a series of "S" turns, like a Nascar driver warming his tires. Does the growl come and go as you turn the wheel? A bad wheel bearing will growl louder when you load it and quiet down when unloaded. Left turn loads the right bearing. Right turn loads the left bearing.

[TheeSlowPoke]

I just changed the front left wheel bearing on my '94 Deville. The bearing assembly was $225 from Napa. Knowing how to do it now and having the right tools, I could do it in < 1 hour.

Not to argue about what Ranger said above - when I did the S turns, my left bearing made more noise when I turned to the left, i.e. when it was NOT loaded. I would expect it would be like what Ranger said, but in my case it was opposite.

[dkozloski]

Originally Posted by Playdrv4me

That is what it sounds like to me, either that or the input shaft on the transaxle. FWD cars obviously dont have a differential so the list of possibilities is not that big.

FWD cars definitely have a differential it just isn't the pumpkin looking thing like on an RWD car. It's inside the transaxle. Without a differential you couldn't turn corners without tires squealing and steering wheel snatch.

[JTraik]

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductL...aring%2c+Front

It is a very easy fix... 3 bolts.

[Playdrv4me]

Originally Posted by dkozloski

FWD cars definitely have a differential it just isn't the pumpkin looking thing like on an RWD car. It's inside the transaxle. Without a differential you couldn't turn corners without tires squealing and steering wheel snatch.

The transaxle itself acts as the differential though, its not a separate part. Sorry if I wasnt clear.

[mac1usa1]

Mine was 91.90 labor and 302.41 for the GM pn 88964168 02 base deville.
Now my other one is hummin I think I'll have to fix that next oil change.