Front wheel rubbing noise ....driving me CRAZY (SOLVED: wheel bearing)

[patrickd_21]

Ok so my GF has a 2005 Chevy Aveo with 40 000km on it. Here are the symptoms of the noise:

-Started our of nowhere yesterday (car had been parked for 3 days prior)
-Sounds like the wheel is rubbing against something plastic
-Sound starts at 15km/h and gets louder and pitch changes as speed increases
-Sound is loud in the car, almost cant hear it outside
-Sort of sounds like its coming from the front drivers side
-I jacked the front of the car up onto two jack stands and started it. You can hear the noise very clearly when the wheels are turning at about 40-50km/h...when its on the jack stands, the sound sounds like its coming from everywhere...cant pin-point location
-Sound does not vary with engine rpm...only actual speed
-no loose in the suspension, and when I turn the wheels with my hand, everything seems fine


I'm thinking it might be a wheel bearing but im not quite sure...and also im not sure what side its coming from since from the outside I cant pin-point it

Looking for some opinions on what it might be

Thanks

[MetroMPG]

One way to figure out if it's a wheel bearing:

Try "slaloming" the car left and right. If the noise changes in volume (while keeping the same speed) as you compress & uncompress the suspension on each side, that's a big clue.

If it's a wheel bearing, the sound typically gets louder with suspension compressed, quieter uncompressed.

[MetroMPG]

BTW: 2005 with 40,000 km? That's low!!

(25k miles, for our U.S. / Imperial measurement fans)

[thehunterooo]

thank you for the conversion!

[petrified.rabbit]

I have to agree with the wheel bearing idea to check that. It might also be cv joints? With that low of mileage look for a torn boot.

It could also be something stupid like flash rusted brakes, or rock etc in there.

[MetroMPG]

No problemo. (Doesn't beat my '98 Firefly [Metro] though... currently 29k km / 20k mi... :P It was a barn find though. Bought by a little old lady who never drove it.)

[patrickd_21]

Thanks for the help everyone!

It was a wheel bearing...passenger side. Used a screw driving on the steering knuckle to act as a stethoscope and hear which side was done. Was very clear that the passenger side is finished.

Changing it out today.

[MetroMPG]

Glad you sorted it out.

A bit unusual that it went at just 40k kilometers though.

[patrickd_21]

Glad you sorted it out.

A bit unusual that it went at just 40k kilometers though.

I agree...but I can't see it being anything else. I checked all ball joints, tie rods, bushings, CV joints and boot, and everything is tight and looks good.

Anyways, we'll know soon enough...installing the new bearing tonight

[MetroMPG]

You have access to a press? (Last time I went to change a bearing I had to give the hub to a buddy to press the old one out & new one in).