98 VW Jetta - Rubbing / Grinding Noises

Oct 26, 2005 3 Replies

The grinding /rubbing noise is rhythmic but varies in intensity. Appears to come from the front middle. Grind grind grind with the rotation of the tires. If I slightly turn to the left the noise goes away - turn back to straight and it comes back. Does not appear to correspond with engine rpm, only wheel rpm.



Has gotten significanty worse on the drive home. Started out a week ago only appearing during a hard turn at low speed as a scraping noise (thought maybe the wheel was dragging across a piece of loose wheel well plastic).



Any ideas?



Sounds like a wheel bearing. Jack up a wheel, put your hands on the outside of the wheel, and try and rock it. If there is play, its the bearing. If the fronts seem OK, check the back. The noise might not be coming from where you think it is.

When the noise goes away it is normally a front wheel bearing.

Turning left makes the noise go away - normally means the left front wheel bearing is bad. This is because it loads the right side when turning left, therefore the left side is carrying less weight and the noise diminishes.

DC

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