Whorling Sound

[Brandon6127]

About a week ago i started hearing this sound that is like a whorling sound. It gets faster as i get faster. When im going about 20 or less it takes a few seconds before i hear it. When im going faster than that i hear it constantly like its rotating. I noticed also when i turn right in big swooping turns that i hear it louder and sounds worse. Could this be wheel bearing? or Any other ideas? Appriciate any help

 

[treepete]

yeah, if the sound doesnt change when you apply the brakes, it could very well be the wheel bearing.
to check for this, jack up the side that you hear the sound on, and take off the wheel.
remove the brake caliper and hang it off to the side. now, turn the hub by hand and listen. it should make no sound. if it make a little grindy kind of sound, the bearing is failing.

 

[Brandon6127]

Is there any way to find out which side it is before going through all of that. I know when i turn right in big turns i seem to hear it more. That would mean it is the left front tire correct?

 

[treepete]

yeah that would make sense, as a right turn would load the left side more.
My yukon had the drivers side fail first at 114K miles.

 

[Brandon6127]

Now would it be smart to replace the wheel hub assy or just the bearing? I didnt think you could do just the bearing but ive seen some for sale now. My 1999 Tahoe has 107K on it. about 40k are from being trailered behind an RV though. So i havent had alot of common problems but this is one the 107k would take its affect on.

 

[treepete]

I also wanted to replace just the bearing, but that wasnt happenin' for me, according to every mechanic i talked to.
you have to replace the whole hub assembly. I mean, you can get it from the parts store for 215$ roughly
This is for the UNTHREADED mounting holes.
the THREADED version of the hub assy is less costly, about 149$.

Make sure you know this when you go to the parts store

My yukon has unthreaded holes.

The brand name is Temkin.

 

[Brandon6127]

I believe my tahoe is unthreaded as well. It is held on by 4 bolts correct? Thank you for your help. Hopefully this fixes it because its driving me nuts. and the last thing i want is my front end to lock up.

 

[treepete]

yeah I think the bolts pass right through the hub assy and screw into the caliper itself. I would suggest (even though its more money) to try the unthreaded first, and once you get it off, if its threaded, then just take it back to the parts man and exchange.