front-end Rumble/roar goes away turning to right...

[rockandroller]

OK, I thought this was just snow tire noise, but its been around so long I guess I have gotten used to it - but now its getting NOTICEABLY LOUDER at highway speeds. It's pretty much unnoticeable in the city.

If I am up at highway speed then its a constant dull roar (sounds like snow tires on dry pavement roar).. BUT if I turn the wheel to the right enough (going around a curve). The sound STOPS ENTIRELY (uh-oh)

My mechanic noticed it (slight sound at city speeds) last time the car was in for work but wasn't too bothered about it and didn't have an opinion as to the cause.

I'm hoping it's a wheel bearing, and not like a transaxle shaft or u-joint that needs replacing. Car still steers straight and drives fine at all speed. I'm just wondering if I better get this seen to sooner than later!

ANY IDEAS are greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance

[rcktpwrd]

Sounds to me like it's a wheel bearing going bad and it should be fixed sooner rather than later...

[wow77]

I have exactly the same noise / situation with my 2002. I really thought it was the tires however I switched them out and the noise remains.
After poking around discussion boards I am going to give the left side bearing a test that "Chris Fix" has for wheel bearing on YouTube and if it looks bad I will use the shop manual trouble shooting procedure as well. (did the right side 2X and car has 288,000 miles. Will keep this thread going after the test.

[rockandroller]

Thanks for the hints! Anyone else have experience with this? I have a two hour winding mountain highway commute most every weekend for the rest of the year, so want to be careful...

[Alfie1]

Originally Posted by rockandroller

BUT if I turn the wheel to the right enough (going around a curve). The sound STOPS ENTIRELY (uh-oh)

My opinion only: When you are going around a right hander, you are taking the load off of the RH bearing and putting more load on the left hand one, if that's when the noise disappears then it's probably the right hand wheel bearing at fault.

Whatever it is. please update the thread afterwards. Thanks.

Tom

[wow77]

Yes, I spent a good deal of time determining that it was in fact the "driver side" bearing that was bad. I got both wheels off the ground and shook at both 9 & 3and 12 & 6 . Thing is there was very little "slop" in the bearing ....... but it was there. I even backed off the brake pads and rotated the rotors and listened ......... and yes that's where it's VERY obvious it was the driver side bearing.
Even put a sounding rod to the caliper and rotated as well.

That original bearing went 288,000 miles.
The left side got replaced twice. The first China one lasted but a few years, so I got a Timken one ..... that so far is still OK.
My 02 PT takes Timken part no. 510057
$38 from www.autopartskart.com
I understand that after August 11, 2001 they switched to a 39MM bearing.
Hope this helps

[rockandroller]

ALL BETTER NOW. The left wheel bearing was changed out, but there was still a hint of noise. Then the right bearing was changed out, and VOILA! it's all PERFECT NOW. No more roaring rumbling sound - smooth and quiet

[ptcruisersteve]

Originally Posted by rockandroller

ALL BETTER NOW. The left wheel bearing was changed out, but there was still a hint of noise. Then the right bearing was changed out, and VOILA! it's all PERFECT NOW. No more roaring rumbling sound - smooth and quiet

It's always recommended to replace both bearings at the same time.

What brand bearings did you decide to use?

[rockandroller]

I don't know the brand. My mechanic mostly does fleet servicing, and he's been in business at the same location for the last 30 years, so I am confident he has good suppliers of quality parts.
He did tell me the existing bearings appeared to be the original 2004 OEM ones, it didn't look to him like they had ever been changed before...

[wow77]

Just replaced my mount with the Timken and did a road rest, PERFECT