rumble from front end that increases with speed

[jpdykes]

I have an 1999 alero with 63000 miles on it. last week i started to hear a low rumble that started to sound like road noise in the tires, but only increased with speeds between 15 and 40 mph. Do you think it could be a wheel bearing, or just tires? the sound varies sometimes from not hearing it at all to a really low rumble. the sound stays the same around bends and the transmission is running just fine.

[JTrujillo86]

It does indeed sound like a wheel bearing. In some of the other automotive forums, people have commented on the same exact thing you are. It also happens on the Malibus. My next door neighbor had a 1999 Malibu when I had my 1997, and he told me that if I ever heard that type of noise, to get rid of it right away. The wheel bearing in is car cost nearly $900.00. I'm not saying you should get rid of yours, I'm just letting you know what I've heard.

Jeremy

[DamienZ28]

You can get a aftermarket wheelbearing from your local parts store for about $150. GM want something like 3 times that!!! Don't get confused on the sounds from your wheel ILl asume it is the front left as it normally is.. The rumble is more likely the cv joint not the wheel bearing. The bearing will give off a hum or even a high pitch hum before it turns into a grind. I went through this same process with my 99 alero Cept I have both problems. The wheel bearing cost me 150 and a half hour of work, the problem is after I did the bearing the now silent noise uncovered a cv joint noise that wasnt audible earlier. The CV is more of a clunking sound and they seem to wear out on the aleros and others even without a torn boot or anything. Just a thought hop this helps.

[JTrujillo86]

RE: Damien Z28

How many miles did you have on your Alero when you experienced the wheel bearing and CV joint issues?

JeReMy

[DamienZ28]

I had about 50,000 miles on the car. I should have been more clear on the time it took to do the job. It really helps having all the right tools right away. My father in law has a garage setup for anything and everything. If this was done with normal hand tools and a jack the process would have taken much longer to do. Ive been blessed with all the normall alero issues! Leaking intake gasket, wheel bearing, cv and leaking windshield.. still love the car though.. Not sure why!

Hope that helped ill keep a eye on this thread for anyother questions.

[DamienZ28]

I forgot another detail sorry... The more expensive wheel bearing you mentioned from a gm dealer I would imagine if affordable I would have bought that one instead. The cheap aftermarket ones seem to be hit and miss if they hold up and if the abs sensor works right or not. The one I bought I dont trust 100% and the abs sensor drops my abs and traction control sometimes. So we are really stuck with what to do! Looking back I might have put out the extra money on the gm unit.

[malcolm brumley]

[malcolm brumley]

Olds seems to have inherent noise similar to a faulty wheel bearing. I have an alero and an intrigue that both have the noise. It's strange but it can be heard from the driver's side but not from the pass. side

[DamienZ28]

[Blubyu]

JP,

Sounds like a wheel bearing for sure. Just changed mine this weekend. $115 bucks at advanced auto, lifetime warranty. I had to figure out which needed repair. My solution was while driving straight down the road, I could hear the hum, turned the wheel left, hum went away, wheel back to straigh, hum came back, turned the wheel right, hum got louder. I figured that when I turned the wheel left, I loaded the right wheel, lightned the left, noise went away. When I turned the wheel to the right, loaded the left, lightned the right, noise was much louder. I figured left wheel bearing assembly. It took me a little over an hour to change. Be sure to get some PB BLaster or similar penetrating oil to for the caliper bolts. Hope this helps

Blu

By the way...my first post...I'm new to the forum!!

[ericinalaska]

My wife's 2001 Alero has a loud noise from the front end when turning left. Going straight ahead and to the right is quiet. It starts at about 20mph and is loudest at about 40mph. I thought it was probably the left wheel bearing, so I replaced the bearing assembly ($110 for the assembly, $15 for the axle socket, $30 for renting the hub puller), but the noise is still there! I can feel it through the pedals as well as the steering wheel.
A buddy seems to think that the power steering fluid smells burnt, and that there are metal shavings in the fluid.
The breaks are fine.
Any ideas? Need some help here!

[ericinalaska]

I took the old left assembly and put it on the right side today, and it fixed the problem! No more noise. The service engine, abs and trac off lights are on, but when I have $110 for a new assembly, I'll replace it and hopefully the lights will go off too. I'm just glad I found and fixed the problem.