Front end humming sound

JACKNUT

MEMBER
2005 BUICK LA CROSSE
3.8L
V6
177,000 MILES

Front end make humming sound almost like I have truck tires on it. It does not grind. Thump, chunk or make snapping noises. The faster I go the louder it gets. Turn left and quiets down just a little not much turn right and seems louder but not a lot louder. Power steering is quiet and make no noise stopped while turning wheel left and right any ideas? Wheel bearing? How can I check it parked?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,873 POSTS

You are indeed describing a noisy wheel bearing. My preferred method is to run it in gear on a hoist, then listen next to each one with a stethoscope. One will make some noise, but the noisy one will be obviously louder.

Another method is to jack the suspect tire off the ground, reach over the top of it and wrap your fingertips around part of the coil spring, then rotate the tire with your other hand. If the bearing is noisy, you'll feel the vibration in the spring.

This article might be relevant, especially to others researching this topic:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-cv-axle-bearing