1996 3.8 manual 180k
When i'm going down the road at any amout of speed i get a humming noise (that increases in volume the faster i go)
when i'm driving straight or when i turn the wheel to the right (the pitch will change) yet when i turn the wheel to the left past center the noise disappears.
The noise sounds exactally like i've got 33" mudders on the car while going down the road, just about 50% quiter, and you can feel the steering feeling weird at center and to the right, but not to the left. It's also not alot louder with the windows down versus having them up.

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas? a wheel bearing going bad?

the noise is the same with either my 15's with the ghetto general tires
or the 17's with my newer G-force sports, the volume and noise is the same with both. thx, Sean

 

It does "sound" like a wheel bearing to me by what you described.

 

Sounds like you need a left front wheel bearing, the noise will go away when turning left because you're taking the load off the left bearing and loading up the right one. If you're planning to change it yourself you're gonna need a good torque wrench, needs to be at 230lb/ft I believe, part is $90-$120.

 

i was assuming it was a wheel bearing, but just wanted to double check, we got a bunch of pricey torque wrenches at the shop, i should change it there before i have a wheel fall off, hope it holds up for the 500km trek i'm taking on sunday :S

 

well i thought it was going to be alot easier to change the bearing then it looks, i thought the bearing bolted to the bottom of the strut like my cav, but appearently it's not, so i think i'm just going to take it in to my mechanic and get him to do it, because i'd rather pay the $150 and assume the wheel isn't going to fall off, then do it myself and hope i did it right... that and i don't have time before saturday to do it.

 

well humming is because of torque. better go for routine checkup of your car to mechanic.

 

i agree........
it is because of your left side bearing.
it's better to go to your mechanic.

 

i did, 14 months ago, just had new rad, waterpump, thermostat, rear calipers, pads, discs and had it undercoated just in time to park it for the winter