Diagnosing Noise Help

[DiGiornoRisingCrust]

So if I accelerate over 25 MPH or so in my '07 RWD, I get a noise that sounds like bad tire noise. The tires are brand new and shouldn't be making that noise. I assumed it was a wheel bearing, so I jacked it up. None of the wheels had any play in them when I wiggled them, but the left front wheel grinded when I turned it. It sounded like a scraping noise.

I know that some bad wheel bearings won't have play in them, but I just bought my car from a used car lot, and it seems kind of sleazy for them to sell me a car with a bad bearing. (Although they did sell it to me with an AC leak, and didn't disclose that info to me.)

I'm really not very mechanically intelligent, so any help is appreciated.

 

[07EddyB]

The best way to diagnose a bad bearing is if the noise gets louder turning. As for the grinding noise, that could just be the brake pads. Does it get worse when you are in a curve in the road and if so a left or right curve?
It would help to know the mileage also.

 

[WaltZ]

So if I accelerate over 25 MPH or so in my '07 RWD, I get a noise that sounds like bad tire noise. The tires are brand new and shouldn't be making that noise. I assumed it was a wheel bearing, so I jacked it up. None of the wheels had any play in them when I wiggled them, but the left front wheel grinded when I turned it. It sounded like a scraping noise.

I know that some bad wheel bearings won't have play in them, but I just bought my car from a used car lot, and it seems kind of sleazy for them to sell me a car with a bad bearing. (Although they did sell it to me with an AC leak, and didn't disclose that info to me.)

I'm really not very mechanically intelligent, so any help is appreciated.

I just had a similar problem [see my thread from a few weeks ago]. It sounded like I was running on 2 flat tires. Sound went faster as the vehicle went faster and stopped when I let up on the gas. Ended up being a bad rear differential. $250 on eBay delivered and the dealer installed it. BTW, its the second one I've replaced on it.

Front wheel grinding noise: Worse case is bad bearing. Best case scenario - you need new brake pads

Good Luck!

 

[DiGiornoRisingCrust]

The noise doesn't change through a turn, and it has 147000 miles. I don't have any records of service that previous owners may have done, so I don't know when and if they replaced the bearings.

 

[DiGiornoRisingCrust]

I just had a similar problem [see my thread from a few weeks ago]. It sounded like I was running on 2 flat tires. Sound went faster as the vehicle went faster and stopped when I let up on the gas. Ended up being a bad rear differential. $250 on eBay delivered and the dealer installed it. BTW, its the second one I've replaced on it.

Front wheel grinding noise: Worse case is bad bearing. Best case scenario - you need new brake pads

Good Luck!

Thanks! Do you think the grinding could be causing the "tire noise?" The left front wheel also grinds, but only on a certain spot on the rotor? (Not to great at names)

It's like if you took a record with a thin scratch along the radius and played it; it would hit the scratch once per rotation.

 

[WaltZ]

Thanks! Do you think the grinding could be causing the "tire noise?" The left front wheel also grinds, but only on a certain spot on the rotor? (Not to great at names)

It's like if you took a record with a thin scratch along the radius and played it; it would hit the scratch once per rotation.

Looks like you have a warped rotor. If you're handy, its a trip to the parts store and a few beers.

For most repairs, I go to Firestone. Its close to me, many parts have life time warranties [I've used them] and sometimes you can catch a good coupon deal online, like brake jobs.