rubbing sound at front wheel

[shmig]

You guys are amazing for doing this btw...

I have this repetitive rubbing sound coming from the driver's side front wheel. It increases as I go faster and slower as the car goes slower. When I apply the brakes the sound disappears. It usually isn't audible when first driving but will show up after a few minutes. If I'm turning slightly to the left it will go away, or if I make a right turn I will occasionally get a rattling noise that's distinctly different.

I had this looked at a while ago, before the rattling noise appeared, and they determined it was a motor mount and replaced that. The noise did not go away.

I've taken a look at it and do not see anything obvious. Brake pads are still good, rotor is smooth and not visibly warped (though it has more rust on it than I'd like). I tried moving the tire to see if the bearings were shot but didn't have any luck (I'm not ruling it out yet).

After reading pages of posts, many people have hinted at this problem and asked questions that I've hopefully answered. Any suggestions?

[Jason/RKBA]

The fact that it changes when you apply the brakes leads me to believe there is a brake problem, probably a warped rotor or the pad clip could have broken. If it is a bad rotor it will eventually cause a problem with the hub. Pads and rotors will run you about $70 and the hub will run just under $100. But make sure its not just the plastic wheel well that has come loose or something like that.

[homerr]

Sounds like the hubs/bearings are bad in the front. I had to replace mine after the car was only 5 years old. (Sunfire)

Homerr

[muff34]

so if you are cruising down the road and you hear it then turn the steering wheel abit does the noise disappear for a split second then reappear? If so I`m will agree with homerr. I`ve done numerous hub/bearing replacements on different cars and the symptoms were the same

[NJH_Habitatpro]

Sounds like the bearing for sure. Same thing happen to me twice. Each side.

[S_chevy]

for a piece of mind take in to les schwab and ask front end inspection, they will do it for free and then give you a print out of all that is wrong. also do you still have stock steel wheels with the hub caps? they make all kinds of noises, if so take the hub caps off and test drive it.