Roarrr!!!!

That's the sound my wife's 2000 Windstar makes going down the road. Notice I said "my wife's" Windstar. That's because it's a piece of crap and I hate it but am currently financially obligated to it.

First thing I did was look up the price of a bearing and I learned you have to buy a whole hub assembly and can't just press in a new (inexpensive) bearing like I am used to. $106/autozone $65/ebay.

Basically, it's roaring like all my past vehicles have that had a bad wheel bearing. Jacked up each wheel, pulled, spun, wiggled, listened, etc... Nuthin. Today I pulled the front wheels, pulled the calipers, and spun the assembly by hand while listening with a mechanics stethescope... nuthin. Everything seems tight.

Also, the noise doesn't fluxuate when turning a curve like I am used to.

So... maybe it is not a wheel bearing? It sure sounds like one though! Front tires are new snow tires within the last 6 months and look good. Rear need replacing. If I had to guess its coming from the drivers side front.

Best of all, when I put the wheels back on today I was torquing the lug nuts to 100 ft/lbs and one snapped off. Which is another first for me. Are these lugs made out of lead or something?

This sucks, I don't have tons of money the be buying hub assemblies and crap. I need to pinpoint the issue and fix it instead of playing guesswork.

I am hoping someone has some ideas to help me diagnose the cause of my problem. Thanks!

This van is probably not worse than any 7+ years old vehicule. Need to be fix periodicaly. I have ever located if this noise come from a front wheel bearing and from which side. I lift one side of the vehicule, enought to clear the ground; support the van safely. Start the engine and put it on drive and slowly increase the speed (wait for the transmission pass a few speed) but do not really go over 35 to 45 mph on your speedo. Notice the sound that you hear. Apply the brake (don't forget it) then put it in park, lower the side of the van and repeat the same process on the other side.

If there is a problem with one particular side you will probably be able to hear or feel it.