I have a '99 Forester with a 155,000 miles on it. The struts are worn out and the tires are getting cupped. The car feels swirvy shifty and makes a roaring noise. Not good. I was saving for the struts but the head gaskets blew so now I am broke. :icon_frown: While I had my car in the shop getting the HGs replaced they mentioned that one of the wheel bearings in the back may be worn but since I was already spending a fortune I told them not to touch it. I guess they took it for a test drive after fixing the HGs and heard the noise. Now I am concerned that the noise is not just cupped tires but perhaps more. I teach at a high school and the auto teacher put my car on a lift. We grabbed the tires and could not feel any free play. He even put something up against the rear tires that spun them one at a time while in neutral. Thought that this would have detected the bearings. No noise. We then put it in gear and revved the motor to spin the tires. Noise, couldn't tell from where but noise. He checked the differential case oil which was fine. He grabbed the shaft and there felt to be some play. He said that essentially anything from the shaft coming from the transmission back to the tires could be making the noise. Ideally I should replace the struts which I know are worn out and go from there but I would like to rule out anything else that might be about to go. I think a worn bearing might be more important than a strut. I would much rather catch it first and fix it myself. If it is the bearing what other way can I go about detecting that I haven't already described? I think tomorrow we are going to take the tire off. If there are any other possible areas that I could be advised to inspect please share with me.