I decided to go on a nice drive with my wife tonight and I've officially gotten worried about this sound coming from the rear of my car. The driver's side rear seems to get some kind of buffeting sound. It used to be at 40 to 47 mph, but only sometimes. The sound would come and go. The best way to explane it is a pulsating sound, similar to a cupped tire. I know that wheel bearings usually squeal or grind when they go bad, but my car has always refused to go with the usual symptoms to let me know there's a problem. My tires have been replaced, so it's not that, as the sound started before changing out my rear tires. Tonight the sound came and went from 40 to 60 mph, and slightly louder this time. I have a very bad feeling that it's my wheel bearing, but everyone I talked to says otherwise. My bad feelings are usually right (probably because I've had my car for so long and know every 'normal' noise). Is this a bad/loose bearing or something else?

Originally posted by electrohead
I have a very bad feeling that it's my wheel bearing, but everyone I talked to says otherwise.

No offense but unless all the people you spoke with actually inspected your car, those opinions are not worth a damn.

Have you tested for play? The first thing you do is a visual inspection followed by checking for play at any number of the control arms and bushings. Jack the corner up and see what you can come up with. There are plenty of bushings to go bad.

Additionally, how old are the tires on there? You said they have been replaced but how many miles ago? A new tire could have solved the older tire's wear issues, however if a suspension of driveline component is failing, it will immediately begin causing irregular wear to the new tire. Just because you replaced it does not mean it is still good - poor alignment can eat tread in 100 miles or less.

Tread is perfect. I think total miles on my tires are 5k. Tires are Continental DWS (235/45/17s). My suspension components, I believe, are 4 or 5 years old dealer direct replacements. Being that my hub assemblies in the rear of my car came from Advance and have been on my car for 5 and a half years and survived a couple of near wreck experiences ( hitting a wood block that fell off a truck at 80 mph, getting airborn; and a spin out in the rain at 55 mph (6 spins on the highway and going off road for another 2 spins in the grass), I think it's a good possibility it might be my hub assenblies. Not too sure. I still have drums in the back (I know, they suck) and checked all the hardware and it's all good. I had a shop take a look at my rear as well. Unfortunately, the guy that looked at it was a part-time employee and full-time retard. He changed my timing belt since I have no place to do it right now and broke my outer timing cover and cracked the inside one (the shop is looking for new timing covers for me)... Just wondering if a bearing can come loose and occasionally make a cupped tire kind of howling.

I had a guy with a similar noise come to me and we both thought it was the wheel bearings, turned out to be a broken spring in the rear drum. If you have drums in the back, go ahead and take the drum off and check for anything broken or missing. Takes just a couple minutes.

Well, I checked everything on the car, and eveything regarding the suspension and brakes seemed fine. When I spun the exposed hub while it was still on the car, I heard a nice, low hum. Didn't feel any flat spots, but it felt like it had a little bit too much resistance. When I pulled it off, I noticed what looked like metal shavings around the bearing area (not a whole lot, but a few specks). Swapped in a nice Napa unit and spun it. Nice and quiet. I took it for a spin on some back roads and the highway, not pushing it, just cruising to see if I heard or felt anything, and everythig seems fine. Steering is back where it should be, too. :D On to saving my money for the body work.

Congrats