Bad axle or bearing?

[exzercist]

my 96 tsi awd has a weird humming noise that starts at about 40 mph while crusing and only gets louder after that. It sounds like its coming from the passenger rear tire, and when I turn sharply to the right it complety stops and sounds like normal. i checked the tire and moved it from left to right, up and down, but nothing solid as can be. i can move the tire forward to back or vice versa "like when the wheel is rollin" and it turns a little bit when the cars in gear. i tried the drivers rear tire and it dosnt move at all. is one suppsoe to move or is it suppose to not move? i was thinking it was the wheel bearing but there i dont know. can i try anyhting else or has anyone had this prob?

 

[overdoseheroin]

wheel bearing.

 

[exzercist]

thanks i'll prob buy one soon.

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

If you jerk the wheel to the right and the sound goes away, it's the right side bearings as this unloads the weight off of them. Good job diagnosing.

Good Luck

 

[exzercist]

thats what i figured about the weight shifting to the left side. what stumps me is that theres no play in the wheel at all. every wheel bearing i fixed before always had play in the wheel maybe awd dsm are different? thanks for the help people.

 

[blackGSX2g]

Mine was the same way. The rear passenger side bearing was making all kinds of noise past about 40mph. Noise went away when the bearing was unloaded, but it didn't have play in it either. Cars can just be weird sometimes.

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

The noise is not necessarily a loose bearing. Bearings can watermark over a period of time. What happens is water gets into the bearing and forms rust pits on the race and rollers. As this gets worse you get the droning noise you were talking about. It's a very common occurrence. Replace the bearings and if it's the front it is a little bit of a bi*** but can be done. Be careful with the snap ring that holds it in. Good Luck

 

[I-luv-em-all]

My car does the same thing, I think it is comeing from the back somewhere, but when I turn sharply left the sound goes away, so does that mean it's the drivers side?

One more thing what does a new wheel bearing roughly cost?

 

[spyder97gs]

You can get a new hub assembly as cheap as around $75. Check partsamerica.com, which is Advance Auto. I sprung for the BCA National which was like $120 if I remember.