Front end vibration

I drove my daughters 97 Grand AM tonight just to check it out and I noticed that her ETS light was on and she had a whinning sound coming from the front end (I think). I could also feel the vibration thru the steering wheel. It changed pitch depending on the speed traveled. It was just inspected 2 weeks ago so I'm "assuming" the front brakes are good! I'm thinking CV joint or wheel bearings but I'm wondering if anyone knows of a problem common to the cars? I'm not sure how hard it is to change a CV joint (or even if it's possible in the driveway) but she can't afford a shop and I don't mind getting my hands dirty! Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

ETS light is probably a faulty sensor. If yours is one where the sensor is in the hub they are really susceptible to damage from using impact drives on the lugs. The "whine" could be the squeeler from a worn out brake pads. The vibration may be from the rotors warping from being over torqued last time the wheels were put on.

Thanks for the fast response. I'm sure the guy inspecting the car used an air gun when pulling the wheels. I guess I'll start by pulling the wheels and seeing what I've got. I hate trying to describe noises cars make. I know the "whine" pad squealers make and this isn't it. It's more like a chatter/vibration that increases with speed. It kinda goes away if you jerk the wheel left and right while driving but the rest of the time you can feel it right thru the steering wheel. Forgive my ignorance but, is the ETS light the same thing as the ABS light on other cars?

I know that different models have certain problems associated with them, like my Astro has problems with drag links, blower motors, tranny valve bodies, wiper motors, fuel pumps (why do I own this piece of junk!!!) and I was just wondering if the Grand AM has something in the front end or drive line that is a common problem?

Thanks again for your help!

ETS=Electronic Traction control System not really the same as ABS

Okay. I pulled the wheels and for the life of me I can't figure out how the heck it passed inspection! I snapped a stud trying to get the lug nuts off and I don't think the wheels have been off since the last brake job! Put on the new rotors and pads and eyeballed everything. Looks good (not that I know what I'm looking for). I took it for a test drive and that DAMN vibration is still there:uhoh:

Can anybody tell me what a bad CV joint feels like? And how to test for one? Is it similar to a bad U-Joint? Can you hear it by shifting back an forth between drive and reverse like a U-Joint? I'm grasping a straws here but I don't want my daughter driving an unsafe car!!

Thanks

Get the car scanned and see if thiers any ABS DTC's.
It does sound like a hub/bearing gone bad.

CV joints make more of a clank/clunk sound then a whining noise.....

Excesive vibrations can also be caused by a tire or rim.

Thanks- The first thing I asked her was weather or not she had hit anything! I thought maybe it was a bent rim or a belt on the tire. But the wheeel doesn't shake. You can feel the vibration thru the wheel but you can let go of it and the car tracks true! I'm thinking it's time for the shop! If I knew what it was, I could probably fix it, but I don't want to keep throwing parts at it!
Thanks for all your help-Great Forum you've got here!

CV joints usually will only click or vibrate depending on which direction you are turning... they're not like U joints. Its basically a ring with a number of ball bearings inside of it. Alot of times the ring becomes cracked and it will make a clicking noise when turning. (outside cv joint) or a strong vibration while turning is sometimes an inner CV joint. (where it connects to the transaxle) It's not exactly an easy job, as you need to take the struts off to get the driveaxles out. then again, without hearing it myself, its hard to determine the vibrations.

This thing is driveng me nuts. I manage to forget about it for a while and then I remember it again and go back to "trouble shooting". Tonight I was ideling the engine and I rested my hand on the air cleaner housing. I felt a tapping! I rev'd the engine and it got stronger!! I went and got a long screwdriver and started listening to different ares of the engine. It is smooth as silk on the valve covers but there is a Strong tapping on the plastic manifold the runs to both ends of the engine (no clue as to what the heck it is!) I thought it was the exhaust manifold until I saw it was made of plastic and wasn't hot! What the hell could be knocking in there?? I'm gonna try to find out what that "manifold" is and what could be causing it to knock
Any ideas??

It's been quite a while since I've driven the car and when I drove it the other day, it scred the heck outta me. I can't believe she's been driving it like this!! When going straight the 'Noise" gets louder as the speed increases. It has nothing to do with engine RPM cause I popped it into neutral and reved it and the noise stayed constant. The ONLY time it doesn't vibrate is when you are either turning Right or the road curves to the Right (exit ramps). I'm thinking/praying that it has to be bearings!! I guess it's time to pull the wheel AGAIN and take another look. Can anybody tell me what I'm supposed to be looking for to determine weather it's bearings or the CV Joint that's bad?
Thanks for the help (again)

If its a moaning/grinding then stops when you turn then it is a bearing.

It's probly the right bearing, jack it up and see if it grinds when you rotate it by hand.
Grand ams love to eat up bearings for some strange reason....