Wum wum wum

[chickenmanq]

So Charlotte's sick.  Right when I get to 45 mph, she starts a wum-wum-wum hum thing that sounds like bearings.  I first noticed this on the last leg to Flagstaff coming back from Las Vegas.

If I go higher than 45, the wum wum increases speed, but 45 is when it is the noisiest (most vibration feedback felt).  It does not stop when I press in the clutch, although with the clutch to the floorboard, I can feel the vibration quite noticeably.  So I'm pretty sure it's in the front of the car.

I drove Charlotte 90-100 the entire way to Vegas, and the entire way back.  (Don't start yelling about speed limits.  I know.)  Seeing as I was barely starting to notice this when I was about 100 miles from Flag on the way back, what do you guys think?

Wheel bearings?  Transmission?  The front dust covers have been off this car since I got it.  The castle nut for the spindle is exposed, so I'm thinking maybe 8 hours of high speed driving + dirt or whatever=maybe they're toasted?  It just doesn't seem like wheel bearings, but maybe I'm overthinking it.  Oh yeah, car has not been aligned either, although with 165 13's what's there to align on a $50 dollar car...  I'm supposing maybe that put a weird load on the bearings.  K, that's all the info.  Before you ask, no I don't need smart-ass or negative comments.  You know who you are.

[thelinja]

My car did the same thing when I got it ...that wum wum wum sound...It was because the alignment was off and the front tires were cupped...Then when I popped my yokos on the sound went away.

[chickenmanq]

You know, it makes me happy that you mentioned that.  I was just driving home and thought the same thing.  I went over the bearings/cv joints, but the cv boots are all fine, and the wheel bearings I think would make a much worse sound.

I'm thinking now I may have fucked up the tires.  They are the cheapest piles of crap (came with the car) you could get, so I'm going to check the speed rating tomorrow.  I'm thinking maybe they aren't rated for over 95, and thus, all the high speed, plus misalignment may have screwed them over.  Which would be great, because bearings and cv shafts are damn expensive.

[HippoSleek]

The quick way to check wheel bearings is to put your hands at 9 and 3 o'clock on the wheel and pull back and forth.  If there's play, there's a problem.

Now this will only work on BAD bearing - not a gonna be bad soon one.  But since I've never heard a wheel bearing make that much noise while going straight - ever REALLY bad ones - I'm guessing that technique should work for you.

FWIW, I've got 5 on the alignment too. <img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[gabossie]

Same thing has been happening to my baby. I figured it was the wheel bearing and I have been looking into replacing it. It would be nice if it was just allignment but I don't think so. It started out making the hum when I turned right, then it started doing it when I am going straight too. I have been driving on it for waaaaay to long, including 2 trips from LA to the bay area and back &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> I posted about it awhile back, but no one really gave any advise. The dealership told me that I can't replace the bearing either, I have to replace to whole hub assembly <img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> Any one got some advice?<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>?

[HippoSleek]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (gabossie @ Oct. 10 2002,2:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Same thing has been happening to my baby. I figured it was the wheel bearing and I have been looking into replacing it. It would be nice if it was just allignment but I don't think so. It started out making the hum when I turned right, then it started doing it when I am going straight too. I have been driving on it for waaaaay to long, including 2 trips from LA to the bay area and back <img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> I posted about it awhile back, but no one really gave any advise. The dealership told me that I can't replace the bearing either, I have to replace to whole hub assembly <img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> Any one got some advice?<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Use lube - it's gonna hurt. &nbsp;If it did that when turning before going straight, you sound like you've got a really f'ed wheel bearing. &nbsp;Sorry mang <img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>


NEW SMILIES ROCK!!!!

<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':devil:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sarcasm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sarcasm:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':laugh:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sneaky2.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':evil:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/turn.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':turn:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/alien.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':alien:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/music.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':music:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh2.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh2:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/yin-yang.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':yingyang:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/baaa.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':baaa:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':withstupid:'>

[gabossie]

<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

So what happens if I keep driving on it until I can afford a new one? And had anyone else had this prob with an S14? Do I need to replace the whole hub? Chiltons didn't help much. <img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'>

[chickenmanq]

Actually, I'm inclined to think it's something other than a wheel bearing. &nbsp;Either way, I'm going to jack it up tomorrow, and set a brick on the accel for 45, and then probe with my stethoscope. &nbsp;Should be able to find the source. &nbsp;I just really hope it's not in the tranny. &nbsp;It does seem to be more on the driver's side, so, I dunno.

Gabossie: &nbsp;Like any metal component, it's just a question of how long. &nbsp;Wheel bearings and bearings in general you usually can't ignore for a long period of time. &nbsp;Otherwise they'll shed their housing, and leave you wheelless. &nbsp;Literally. &nbsp;I know people that has happened to. &nbsp;Very dangerous. &nbsp;

Two things: &nbsp;Pay attention to the noise. &nbsp;If it gets progressively louder, stop driving it. &nbsp;It's not worth it. &nbsp;

2. &nbsp;It may be something else. &nbsp;I would investigate further. &nbsp;Jack it up, see if you can find the noise. &nbsp;Drive it in an empty parking lot if it's doing it at low speeds and have a buddy jog alongside the car to get a rough estimation.

[chickenmanq]

Oh dammit. &nbsp;Pretty sure it's the passenger side wheel bearing. &nbsp;Ran the car while off the ground, and got a noise on that side. &nbsp;Probed with stethoscope and didn't find any bad noises in the tranny. &nbsp;Finally, rotated tires and the wum wum was still there.

Fark-wheel bearings are 50/side. &nbsp;And I might as well get new rotors while I'm at it. &nbsp;Who thinks I should rebuild the entire thing on my credit card?! &nbsp;<img src="#/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>