Shaking and squeaking front end

[zfadinglifez]

Hello again,
I have once more come to seek the wisdom of the forum.
This time I am having trouble with my front axel/bearings/joints.
It started a little over a week ago and was first noticed while stuck in stop and go traffic, there was a rubbing/squeaking coming from the front of the car, I can feel it through the gas pedal and the steering wheel and when I'm next to something for the sound to bounce off of I can hear a squeak or a scraping sound. It is completely associated with the speed of the car, slower when I'm going slow, faster when I'm going fast. Worse when turning, better when braking.
It has been getting progressively worse, but not enough to affect drive-ability or to make me feel unsafe..until this morning. When disembarking from my cruise on the highway it started shaking a whole lot more, so much that I was actually scared and might have pulled over right there if it wasn't a mile from where I work.
I called a shop and they think it is the bearing, not sure which one of course, and can't tell me for sure until they can take a look at it, but of course they were closed by the time I got out of work. I was able to drive the 25 miles home but kept on regular streets for fear of what might happen if I attempted highway speeds.
Has anyone encountered something like this?
Could it be locking up ABS or a stuck parking break?
Can I keep driving it like this or and I just doing more damage and costing myself more money?
It is a really inconvenient time for me because I am moving in a week and need the car to move things and get to work.
Any help will be appreciated,
Thank you!

[shorod]

The early symptoms do sound like a bearing issue. Although a bearing would need to be in REALLY bad shape to cause shaking to the degree you describe it now. You might also have a loose steering or suspension component. The best thing to do at this point is to have an experienced person take a look at the car and don't drive it until inspected if possible. If you absolutely must drive the car, don't take it on the highway and try to keep to unpopulated streets. Besides causing more damage to the car, you could also be putting other people at risk. It's nearly impossible to say without knowing what the issue is, but it doesn't sound safe.

-Rod

[zfadinglifez]

Rod,

Thank you for your input, the bearing is what the shop I called suggested as well. Unfortunately I work second shift 30 miles away and they were closed when I got out of work. Also unfortunately I absolutely must drive it, I have no other mode of transportation and am moving to a new apartment in one weeks time, during which I had planned to take daily trips with car loads of things to make moving day easier, for a total of 45 miles round trip each day.
It really feels to me like something is rubbing against something that's literally stuck. This makes me think a malfunction with the ABS or a locked up parking break which I used for the first time in a while a day or so before this started.
The plan right now is to drop it off at a shop near work monday morning and hope to pick it up monday night, since I have no other mode of transportation.
And i do plan on avoiding highways until this is fixed, unfortunately i live in a city where unpopulated streets dont really exist.
(goodness i'm looking forward to living so much closer to work)

[shorod]

It wouldn't be uncommon for a parking brake, that is not typically used, to stick. However, the parking brake only actuates the rear brakes, so if your noise and shake is in the front, it's not related to the parking brake.

-Rod

[Willyum]

You happen to have snap off hubcaps? If you do, take them off and try it.

[aliw307]

What ended up being the cause of the noise/shaking?