Front end hum

[jonnik]

My 2004 Malibu (Classic) has developed a hum in the front which increases in pitch with vehicle speed. It has 41,000 miles, doesn't bounce or wobble, tracks straight and does not pull when braking. The noise becomes more pronounced when veering right. I've driven several front wheel drive vehicles to 100,000+ miles and not had wheel bearing or CV trouble, so I hope it's not a bearing. Any suggestions?

[richtazz]

It's a bearing. Malibu factory hubs are junk. I work at a Delco distributor and sell a boatload of these hubs per week. It also fits Alero's and Grand Am's.

[jonnik]

Thanks for the reply, richtazz. Not what I wanted to hear, but I don't blame the messenger.

[richtazz]

Yeah, I don't like giving bad news either, but I had to be honest.

[jonnik]

Does anybody know what size the axle nut on this car is?

[EricinTN]

My 2000 uses a 1-3/8" deep socket.

[jonnik]

Thanks for the info.

[bearcatdon]

What is the easiest way of figuring out which bearing is shot? I've raised the vehicle and tried to check for play by rocking the tire and couldn't see a noticeable difference between sides. I just don't want to change out the wrong bearing.

[jonnik]

I went ahead and bit the bullet and replaced both of them-figured if one is going, the other is not far behind. I didn't do the work (getting too old for that s***) but I did recover the old hub/bearing assemblies. I think the bad one turned a little more free (compared with the new one) and had a rough spot in it's rotation.