Wheel hub/bearing or what?

[Hank70SS]

2007 Malibu, started hearing hum/whine that sounds like it's coming from passenger side front wheel. Almost sounds like tire, road noise but it's too loud. Starts around 30 mph and get's a little louder the faster you go. Pitch changes as speed increases. Don't think it's CV joint, pitch and volume are always the same at a given speed. Doesn't matter if you're accelerating, decelerating, even in neutral. We have some pretty good curves around here. When the snow goes away maybe I'll try going through one at a good speed with the passenger side on the outside of curve, maybe the sound will change with increased pressure on that hub.

I did jack it up but don't feel any looseness in the wheel. Don't feel or hear anything other then the pads rubbing when I spin the wheel but you can't spin it very fast. Does my thinking sound right? Hate to spend the money and tear it apart in this weather if that's not it. Oh hell, maybe I'll just order a new hub from Rock Auto, about half the price of one from a local parts store.

[chevymaher]

Sounds like a bearing. I had that happen to my durango. Quiet when I spun the wheel. Felt tight. Took it off and spun it in my hand. Quiet but it was rough feeling catching as it spun.

[Hank70SS]

I had one go in my Silverado pickup. I remember that the sound definitely changed when going through a curve. Haven't noticed that with this car but I haven't pushed hard in curve since it started making the noise. I can't think of anything else making that noise so I guess I'll just change it.

[Quadracer392]

Sounds to me like a wheel bearing too. They are pretty easy to determine which side is going bad when you drive them on a curvy road.

We just bought a brand new civic this earlier this year and at 14k miles it started making a noise like a wheel bearing. Took it in to the dealership and they put a set of chassis ears on the car and sure nuff BOTH front wheel bearings went bad at the same time.

[RBeckman]

Yep,wheel bearing

[shadowgray396]

Definitely a wheel bearing

[Hank70SS]

Thanks guys, knew hub on it's way. So how about struts. Never had a car with struts long enough that I had to replace them. I'd like to keep this car, 7 years old around 70,000 miles, it's all set up for towing behind the motorhome and only weighs around 3,100 lbs. Most newer cars can't be flat towed without adding a lube pump to the trans.

So anyway the ride seems rough. Maybe I'm comparing it to the new car but I really think it doesn't ride as smoothly as it use to. It doesn't bounce like worn out shocks, just feels stiff. Is that a symptom of worn struts?

[Quadracer392]

Worn out struts will act just like worn shocks. They will leak oil when the seals are bad and the car will bounce and feel soft, also some will start rattling. Depending on the type of road the car is driven on most will last around 80-100k.

[Ken Hayes]

Struts should be ok Hank.

[Hank70SS]

Thanks guys.