Re: Wheel bearing?

["Dan Bocek" <dan@di.com>]

>   For the past few weeks, I've noticed a humming noise coming from the 
> rear of the car. A friend of mine thinks it is either the wheel bearing 
> or the universal joint. When I turn to the left, it goes away. If I turn 
> to the right, it is a bit louder then when driving straight. 
> 
>   Does this sound like the wheel bearing? Or maybe the joint? How hard is 
> it to replace? 

Sounds like it could be one of your left rear CV joints.  Get under your
car and check for telltale signs of black grease in that quarter of the
car.  If you see any, it means that your boot cracked, spilled the grease,
and destroyed your joint.

If you don't see any grease, don't rule out the CV joint - they can still
go bad.

To check your wheel bearing, feel the wheel hub after a few minutes of
driving to see if it's hot and compare it to the other side for a sanity
check.  If it's a wheel bearing making noise, it's probably making heat
as well.

If you feel no heat, jack the car up in the rear and try checking each rear
wheel for play both top to bottom and side to side.  There should be no
play at all.  If there is, replace the wheel bearing on the affected wheel.

I kind of doubt it's a bad U-joint.  When they go bad, they usually whine
under acceleration.
-- 
                                                   
                                                    Dan Bocek
                                                    dan@di.com