My son has a 2002 Cavalier.
Recently he has been hearing at speeds over about 25 a loud sound which sounds like its in front of the driver in engine area. Its sort of a deep roaring which gets louder as you drive faster.
No sound slowly. I tried to shift the gears to see if it changed and it really didn't. At low gear you don't hear it much cause I think your not going fast enough but as you put the car in Second or third gear and speed up it begins. (car is automatic)
Any thoughts ?
thanks.
Probably a front hub that is failing. Does the noise change when you go through corners?
"Steve W." wrote
Agree. Be prepared for sticker shock when you find out the price. You don't replace a $5 bearing any more.
Had something like that happen on an earlier model, starts at a low vibration at hiways speeds. Turned out to be very pricy when I got the estimate. Universal joints messed up and vibration or whatever didn't stop there. Hubs, upper, lower...a mess. Even tires were showing the start of abnormal wear. Since it was just starting, I drove it for a week or so until I got a new vehicle from a different manufacturer and then sold it for parts/as is. Even noted it on the bill of sale as to avoid liability.
He is just out of town for weekend, but what kind of sound should I look for on curves and what does that indicate?
Thanks all.
On my car, it was a screeching sound and it was not constant. You get different stresses in a turn so noises can be different.
Usually if it's a hub you will hear the tone and level of the noise change when going through turns. This is due to the weight transfer loading and unloading the bearings inside the hub.
For instance if the noise increases when you are turning to the right. then it is probably the left (drivers side) hub. If you hear it more while turning left then it is likely the right (passenger) side.
I have replaced a LOT of hubs that made serious noise but when you rolled them over by hand you didn't feel any vibration or roughness.
The turns I am referring to are ones where your at 30-40 mph and go around a sweeping bend in the road. NOT doing circles in a parking lot at low speed.
I wanted to get back to group.
So I replaced the hub on the front left. As people suggested here. Sound went away and it solved my problem. The only hangup I had was that when I got to the hub it required a Torqs bit. You know one of those ones that are star like. Which I didnt have so I had to buy a set. Grrr . Are car manufacturers actually owned by tool manufacerters? However on the good side the torqs bolts were accesseable from the front so that ment no fiddling with it from behind. You just had to turn the hub so that you lined up a hole on the hub with the bold to get the socket through. Anyway just wanted to say thanks. Fairly easy job really, once you have the tools (1/2 inch socket and big pipe) and know how.
thanks.
MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.