Tricky Noise......

[Phoenixgate]

Before I decided to post this I read thru 30-40 different threads talking about weird noises coming from the front end.

My noise happends when driving straight, turning either way (no difference in sounds) and i notice it starting from 40 km's and up.

The noise is like a humming / roaring / rubbing sound only on the driver side, you can only hear it when the car is in motion.

Now my Low Trac light and ABS lights were giving me issues and I read (in a thread here) that it could be the Wheel Bearing so i bought a new one and replaced it. 6 hours later the new one was in. (the old one was rusted in place and it split in half when we removed it) Low trac and ABS lights are normal now.

Now when I was using the Bearing puller I noticed that the Drive Axle moved inward 1-2 inches (no idea if that is normal or not) But once the bearing assambly came out it went back to it's noraml position.

We inspected the CV joint, Tire rod ends, Calipars, rotars everything looked fine, no grease, nothing hanging.

After all that we took it out for another test drive and the same noise could be heard. We went back rotated the tires, check pressures, went on another road test still the same noise.

My car is a 2000 Grand Am with 250 000 kms on it, other then a battery cell going bad this is the only major problem I have had and it has been going on for 3-4 weeks.

I have had a few people take it out on test drives, sit in different seats in the car and we all are 100% it is from the driver side only.

We have doubled checked the bearing, no give at 12 /6 or 9 /3 positions.

Any Idea's ? or Suggestions?

[stock_am]

did you check the rear bearings??? sometimes a noise seems like it comming from the front but it could be comming from the back. when a cv joint get bad there will be a thumping noise and this can cause the bearing to wear which in the end will start a humming noise as well. This happened to my friend so in the term of a year he went through two bearing just because of the cv shaft. anyways i hope you find a solution to your problem.

[Phoenixgate]

I never thought to check the rear bearings... But I am sure there is no thumping noise just a hum.

Thanx

[tenspeed]

I've read about some noises coming from the stock tires. I'm sure that your stock tires have been changed by now but the replacements may be the same brand.

[Phoenixgate]

I thought tires as well, but I have been using the same brand of tire for 3-4 years now, and I just bought new tires in a couple months ago... It was I drove home from work, ate dinner went to the beer store and started hearing the noise.

[pontiac3100]

umm i say try you axle's...
lift up the front of the car have the in gear and let it roll.
look on the inside of the cv (on the transaxle) and if you see the rod move up and down the inner's are no good.

this seemed to pop up on me last year.
my first subject was a 96 lumina, and thats what it was doing....did'nt start till it got up to 30mph.

then a chrysler, and a saab.
recently an oldsmobile alero.

did the same thing you did.
i replaced his tires, he already had the bearings replaced at midas and midas was telling him it was the tires....and the tire guys don't know what there talking about. that pissed me off! so i replaced all of his tires (the old ones were new!) and drove it , it still made the noise....

he was pissed and i told him....it's the axle.
but yea i don't know what i'm talking about:D

[Phoenixgate]

Thanx, i will try that this week end.