Start with a brake system inspection. Also consider a noisy wheel bearing. Those will sound like the buzz of an airplane engine. With one style of bearing the noise will get real quiet when you turn toward it, as in changing lanes, because that removes some vehicle weight from it. Most newer-style bearings keep on making noise regardless of whether you are turning one way or the other. There are two ways to identify a noisy bearing. I prefer running the car on a hoist, in gear, then I listen next to each one with a stethoscope. One will seem noisy, then the other one will be obviously much louder. Do not rely on it sounding like it is coming from one corner of the car. Noise transfers easily and you will be wrong almost half of the time.
You can also raise the front end off the ground and support the car on jack stands. Hold one hand over the top of the tire and rest your fingertips on the coil spring. Spin the tire with your other hand and if the bearing is bad, you will feel the vibration in the spring.
Sep 11, 2016 at 12:08 AM
