For the past three weeks or so I have had this really loud humming noise coming from the front end which starts at around 25 MPH and gets louder the faster I go. At around 45 MPH it starts to cause a high pitched vibration in the interior of the car, like the vibration from a subwoofer or kicker box. It started on my way home from work after driving the car pretty hard for about an hour. No noise at all prior to this, just started all of a sudden. At first I thought it might be the transmission because I keep getting a code for PCM P0741 (TCC(VCC) SYSTEM STUCK OFF), which means the viscous clutch in the torque converter is stuck off. So at first I thought maybe the noise was coming from the torque converter since it sound like the noise is in the drivetrain, however I noticed the other day that if you turn the steering wheel to the left the noise disappears completely. So it can't be the tranny. Then I was thinking maybe it's either a front wheel bearing or CV joint (axle), but it's been three weeks now and I know on my '92 Seville I had a front wheel bearing go and it started to squeal and within a day it come apart and the wheel and hub seperated from the knuckle. So I figure if it is a bearing or CV joint wouldn't it have came apart by now. Also I know the wheel alignment is out pretty bad and it needs new tires but if it is because of that then why would the noise just start all of a sudden. My last thought was that I also have a code for the left front wheel speed sensor fault, is it possible that is where the noise is coming from. Has anyone ever had this problem before, I could really use your help. This noise is driving me crazy and I don't know what to replace first to get rid of it.
P.S. I also checked the brakes, took them all apart, it's not coming from them. :banghead:

Wow, you have a lot of fun stuff going on with that car right now! :bonkers: :hmm:

Well my first thought is wheel bearing, and I say that because of the way you are describiing the sound, as well as how it goes away when you are turning. Personally I wouldn't drive it a whole lot more before figuring it out, you don't want to toast that bearing if that's what it is, and tear it all up. :crying2: If you jack it up and grab that wheel, with one hand on the top and one on the bottom, and push and pull to check for free-play. If it is really loose, chances are that is it. With it in neutral you probably will be able to feel the bearing growl or rumble a little too if you spin the tire.

With all that weird stuff going on with you trans code and wheel speed sensor, I'm not sure... Maybe there is enough heat or vibration that it did in your sensor or the connection to it? After driving it, do you feel excessive heat up on that rim at all? :hmm:

Turning to the left loads the right wheel bearing (unloads the left). If you turn right I would expect the noise to get louder indicating it is the left bearing that is bad. Since the wheel speed sensor is integral to the hub and bearing and you have a code for a left wheel speed sensor fault I would put money on the left bearing.

Thanx for both of your help. I am starting to think that is probably it also, only I am thinking that it is because of the sensor in the bearing not the bearing itself. I believe there is some sort of gear assembly in the bearing/wheel speed sensor assembly, since I know it is all one piece. Because the code for the left front wheel speed sensor has been coming on and off for a couple months now, now with the noise it is constant. Also I checked for play in the bearing and it is tight and like I said I had a front bearing go on my '92 Seville and once it started making noise it was toast in a day, this is going on for over 3 weeks now and I drive alot, at least 2500 miles since it started making the noise. If it were the bearing itself it should have came apart by now right? Or is it possible for them to go long periods of time under heavy driving like that once they start to go bad. Does anyone know if it is possible that it is just the wheel speed sensor assembly inside the bearing that may be causing the noise, like a chewed up gear or something? Either way I guess replacing the left front bearing/wheel speed sensor assembly should do it. Has anyone ever replaced one without using an airgun. When I first asked my mechanic who I used to work for about replacing the sensor and he explained that the whole bearing has to be replaced, he said that without an airgun it would be really hard to get it apart otherwise I could get it done myself. Has anyone ever replaced one themself? If so any do's and don'ts in replacing it? Thank you.

The sensor is integral to the hub assembly. You have to change the entire hub and bearing assembly (one unit). I changed one on my '92 Deville. Took less than an hour and no need for an impact. I did use a gear puller to get the hub & bearing assembly off the splinned axle shaft. When doing that you will need to put a tire iron or some sort of steel bar between the CV joint and knuckle I beleive to keep from pulling the axle out of the trans. Not sure if it will come all the way out or not but the service manual show this proceedure using a "Special tool". Just watch the axle as you start pulling, you'll see what I mean and know what needs to be done.
Just a little disclaimer here. I have heard others on another caddy site say that they had one hellofa time trying to get it off. All I can say is Jack up to jack down was :45 and that was the first one I had ever done. Maybe I got lucky, I dunno.

For the past three weeks or so I have had this really loud humming noise coming from the front end which starts at around 25 MPH and gets louder the faster I go. At around 45 MPH it starts to cause a high pitched vibration in the interior of the car, like the vibration from a subwoofer or kicker box. It started on my way home from work after driving the car pretty hard for about an hour. No noise at all prior to this, just started all of a sudden. At first I thought it might be the transmission because I keep getting a code for PCM P0741 (TCC(VCC) SYSTEM STUCK OFF), which means the viscous clutch in the torque converter is stuck off. So at first I thought maybe the noise was coming from the torque converter since it sound like the noise is in the drivetrain, however I noticed the other day that if you turn the steering wheel to the left the noise disappears completely. So it can't be the tranny. Then I was thinking maybe it's either a front wheel bearing or CV joint (axle), but it's been three weeks now and I know on my '92 Seville I had a front wheel bearing go and it started to squeal and within a day it come apart and the wheel and hub seperated from the knuckle. So I figure if it is a bearing or CV joint wouldn't it have came apart by now. Also I know the wheel alignment is out pretty bad and it needs new tires but if it is because of that then why would the noise just start all of a sudden. My last thought was that I also have a code for the left front wheel speed sensor fault, is it possible that is where the noise is coming from. Has anyone ever had this problem before, I could really use your help. This noise is driving me crazy and I don't know what to replace first to get rid of it.
P.S. I also checked the brakes, took them all apart, it's not coming from them.


WIND? :hide:

Thanks alot for your help Ranger. I'm still debating whether I should do it myself or not. My good friend who owns a garage said he could do it for $300 or he can get me the bearing/wheel speed sensor assembly for $180 and do it myself. Actually I'm still driving it, have driven almost 8,000 miles since the noise started. So, I'm still kinda sketchy on whether that is it or not. Cause you would think that if it was the bearing (and I've driven her heavy at times) it would have come apart by now and the same if it was the CV Joint. Unless like I was thinking before that it's not actually the bearing itself but the wheel speed sensor in the bearing, if there is some kind of gears on the sensor that are stripped or bad making the noise and that's why it sounds like it is coming from the bearing since it is one piece together. Like I said right before the noise started I began getting an intermittent code for the left front wheel speed sensor and once the noise started the code became constant. That's gotta be it. I guess there's only gonna be one way to know for sure and that's to replace it. If the noise doesn't go away afterward then I don't know what I'm gonna do :drinker , maybe the CV joints next if that doesn't work. Well if the bearing job doesn't do it I guess I'll be posting another thread. Hey Ranger do you think it's recommended to do the bearings on both sides at once or not necessary.

P.S. Definitely not wind. Not even close to that kind of sound.

Some will say if one goes the other can't be far behind. Personally I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. My RF went at about 75k. I traded the car at 125K and the LF was still OEM. The best test is to do a series of "S" turns like a Nascar driver warming the tires. The bad bearing will usually growl when it is loaded and quiet up when unloaded (Left turn loads the right bearing, right turn loads the left bearing) .

I just had mine start doing that and it was the LF wheel bearing. I changed it and the noise stopped immediately. Mine was doing exactly what yours is doing. My RR wheel bearing went out not too long ago and it made a grinding noise. However, this one in the front made a humming or clicking noise like you are describing. I had it replaced at Pep Boys for $290.00. :)

yes it is the bearing(s) i had noise in my 'right' side, changed it, was falling apart, noise was still there, changed drivers side noise gone cost a couple hundred bucks for both. i drove on mine to and from vermont a couple times and around my town and city daily with out any damage other than going deaf from the noise it was making

on my 96 El it was the lower ball joint that as causing the humming, out of alignment and vibration. The old one has to be drilled out on my car and the new one bolted on, which on ocassion has to be re-tightned ( when the humming returns).