front end question

hey all
i got a 02 gp gt it was doin a knockin a little bit when turning took it in and it had a bad wheel bearing. it is under factory warenty still so they replaced both sides (just so they where same) my question is should the front end have been aligned? the steering wheel is a little to the left and theres a weird rubbin noise. nothing is touching the tires but from about 28 to 35 its loudest then at highway speeds its there but not to loud. its a weird noise to explain, its like a cross between something rubbing and road tire noise, almost like the doors are open. the tires feel smooth and i cant feel any grooves. would an alignment fix this? ive had cars thet the alignment is bad but never heard one that made so much noise they usually just pull to one side. i think ill stop at the dealership saturday. i hate goin there because im only 21 and they treat ya like your just in there way and talk to older people right next to me with respect. i got a 2 year old and another on the way, wife drives the car and i wanna make sure a tire aint gonna fly off or something gets messed up when im not there. (not a good dealership, but next one is hour away) but if any one has ideas or has heard of this let me know, thanks

Usually when the bearings are installed the alignment isn't a problem but spend the money and have it done. When they do the alignment they will check the tie rod ends and other components to insure everything it tight.
It is also possible that they installed the bearings incorrectly but doubtful. I would not take it to the dealer but to a shop that specializes in alignments. They should give you the best price and the best opinion on what may be wrong.

How can you tell if you have a bad wheel bearing?

take to a shop even though its under factory warrenty?

I have a 99 GTP and I've got the same problem. When over approx.30 mph I have a wierd rubbing noise. It is not constant, it is totally random. Recently I discovered a massive build up of grease on the inside of of the drivers side wheel. It ended up being a cracked boot on the end of the drive shaft where it connects to the wheel. I thought that would fix the problem but it didnt. I also have an odd knocking noise when going over extremely bumpy roads. It is really noticable when turning left and when I come to a stop sign and take my foot off the brake and push on the gas. Both noises sound like they are in the front right side of the car. Any suggestions - I have no idea and I want find out before I take it to a dealership and get taken for 275 to replace a boot.

i checked the air in the tires, i have never since i had the car. they where at 44psi full. i put them to 38 psi and its a lot quieter but its still slightly there. dont know if i should take it in or not.

Was the random rubbing noise there before you replaced the wheel bearings? Did replacing the wheel bearings fix the random knock noise that occurs when turning left? I have about 65K miles on mine? Is that about where yours is at? Let me know if you find a solution to this irritating noise and in the mean time Ill try the tire pressure suggestion. Thanks

I have a 2000 with 57K on it and I'm hearing the same rubbing noise on the left. I can hear it most when driving next to a wall or something and it echoes back. The rubbing sound speeds up with the car speed and slows down with the car speed. As if something is stuck to the tire and it makes the noise every time the tire rotates and touches the street. Going to get new brakes so I'll have this checked too.

wheel bearings did eliminate the knock when turning, but the rubbin is still there. the car now has 30k on it.

Usually if a wheel bearing is going bad you hear a rubbing or a howl that increases with speed, and increases or decreases when you turn. To me it sounds much the same as an older car with a bad cooling fan clutch. If the front left bearing is going bad the howl will increase when you turn to the right,(which puts more load on the opposite bearing) and decrease when turning to the left. Adversely, a left cv joint will click,and bump when turned to the left, and not when turning right. If you found a large amount of grease on your wheel and replaced a torn boot, all you did was cover up a joint that no longer has enough lubrication, so you will hear noise and will be replacing it in the future.

Im dont here a howl or the wierd rubbing noise when Im turning at any speed. Periodically I will hear a bump or knock when turning left and even less often when i hit a bumpy spot in a road. I dont here the knock when I turn right. That is one noise.
The other noise is the wierd rubbing noise that will occurs between 30-60 mph. Sounds like something periodically touching the tire.
Are they both noise related? Knock - CV joint? wierd rubbing noise - bearings? Thanks so much!!!!

i have just read the last few replies and i've had or tried everything. i also have the random tire rubbing sound, it also feels like my tires are going to cave in under the car while i'm driving. one bump feels more like 10 or 20 bumps. when i turn right and left, it makes this strange noise like i'm turning it too far. i used hear what sounded like broken metal on metal which would bounce up and down around corners. my car can't take a corner at all. and the dealership who got me for a $3000 "premium bumper to bumper " warranty, which turned out to be a base warranty, has the most incompetant morons for mechanics that i've ever seen. it's a ford warranty, by the way.
but so far, i've had a broken sway bar, and a bolt missing from the subframe. so i would check those. but i really think it could be the rack and pinion or a broken strut or strut mount. but whatever it is, it drives bad, and i find something, they fix it, and it feels worse.
so good luck and if you figure it out, i'd like to know too.

the rubbing noise could be a brake dust shield that got bent a little during the hub bearing replacement. As far as the steering wheel being off center, I would say a wheel alignment is in order after the hub change.