96 Saturn LS1 "roar" in front end

SJVVJDR

MEMBER
1996 SATURN

1.9L, 4 banger engine. 145k miles.
Roar in front end when driving sounds like from passenger side. Gets louder as speed increases.
steady when going straight, gets lower when curving to right, gets louder when curving left. First thing everyone says is CV joint, but there is no clunking. Another was PS pump but sound is not high pitched and does not make the "turning steering wheel completely left or right" sound. Does not make noise when stopped or when steering wheel is turned. Does not feel like any play in tire when checked. Other suggestion is wheel bearings, which sounds more accurate to me than CV joint. Any suggestions?

3 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

This has the charactoristics of a wheel bearing problem.

TO check this safely it should be done on a lift. When it is up in the air, a stethescope will be able to tell you which bearing is the loudest one. When the car is in the air, the drive wheels moving at a slightly accelerated pace will make the bearing howl that is bad.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 AT 4:51 AM

SJVVJDR

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Thanks for your reply. I'm trying to pin down the problem before I decide whether to repair or send to shop. I've done bearings on older vehicles, but understand these probably need to be pressed in and half-shaft, ujoint need to be pulled. I just remembered that not too long before this happened, the caliper on that side starting acting up and locked up on the rotor. Had to replace caliper and am thinking maybe because it was getting so hot, it affected the bearings.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 AT 9:11 AM

SERVICE WRITER