I had a wheel bearing replaced around 8 months ago and after having the tires rotated and going on a 1000 mile round trip Thanksgiving drive there is a noise emanating from the rear of the vehicle.
The noise sounds like, ugh, here we go:
"Woo woo wooo wooo" ... At speeds of ~ 35MPH.
The only thing I can compare it to is tuning a guitar - it sounds the dissonance you hear between two strings that are out of tune with each other.
Took it to Sears today where I had the bearings done and the rotation done, and they said to take it to Subaru because they think it is the drivetrain.
So, I am going to Subaru ASAP.
I guess my question is are there any alternatives to the drive train? Just wondering how screwed we are.
My first thought was that it was tire noise due to the rotation (done at Sears), so I took it back there this morning.
They told me it is not normal to hear noise after a rotation, and then sent me off saying it was nothing to do with the tires or wheel bearings with the diagnosis of 'probably the drivetrain'.
I looked at it myself and the right rear (where I believe the noise to be coming from) has slight wear on the outside edge of the tire.
The noise dissipates as I increase speed. Edit: But does not go away
Does the sound dissapate above 35? What makes it better, or worse? I'm going to second the feeling that it is tire noise, the coincidence of it starting after the tire rotation is hard to ignore.
I don't see much wear on the tires to indicate if they are cupped, chopped, or feathered.
If any of those things happened to the tires are they considered significantly damaged and I should not expect the full life of the tire? They are 60k mile tires and they are 8 months old.
Finally, I wonder if it was indeed noise based on tire wear, why wouldn't Sears be able to diagnose it as such?
Do a little test... drive about the 35 it makes noise at, then veer left/right a little.. does the noise change any? Get louder/change going one way, seeminly stopping going the other?
This would indicate a wheel bearing... JUST because it was recently done, DOES NOT mean that it was done CORRECTLY...
I'm just saying this because Subarus are somewhat "finicky" about wheel bearings..
I just did one myself and I think it's bad, though it's made noise over 3 different sets of tires for me, so I'm just procrastinating on the work again...lol..
Often times a suspect wheel bearing will show by give the wheel a spin while holding the coil spring. The spring vibrates due to the flat spots in the bearing.
Took it to my local mechanic, they said it was the rear left wheel bearing. Had it replaced.
The all too familiar noise is now back again, sounds like it's coming from the right wheel this time.
What a headache.
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