Car driving me crazy..litterly

[DrDusty86]

My 99' Escort is litterly driving me crazy. I Have been hearing a "howl" noise from the front drivers side tire. It comes and goes I "think" depending on road quality. It is loudest from 40-60mph and at 65mph it gets quieter, and at 80mph+ I can't hear it. I took the tire into the tire shop, they pulled a nail from it and balanced it. They said it was good.No bubbles or anything I can feel, It has 65% tread left. I'm at a lost here. I would think if it was a wheel bearing it would get louder as speed increased.

I also noticed that when letting off the brakes at idle speeds there is a brief squeak at the back left wheel.

Also, when I was going down the interstate I heard what sounded like I ran over a piece of wire, happened twice in a 7 day period.

I put a drivers side rear wheel bearing on myself about a month ago. I did this AFTER I rotated the tires to confirm a bad wheel bearing. Everything else looked good/tight. The howl in the front started about 3 weeks ago.

What else do I look for where do I start? I'm paranoid that the car might let a tire or rim go at 70mph with the things that I keep hearing.
It "feels" fine driving it.
Dusty

 

[mcshooter]

sounds like a wheel bearing, jack it up and try to move the wheel in a vertical motion.

 

[abycat]

I would put a bit of money on the wheel bearing being the culprit. That one was not replaced if im correct. Does that thing have the sealed one not the old school ones with the castor nut and the open ball bearing ones? If you had the ones that you can adjust you could try to tighten it up a hair and see if the noise changes.

The squeek might be the brakes either the wheel cylinder or one of the other moving parts in the drum.

Check your cv's as well. they can make a funny sound.

 

[DrDusty86]

Like shaking it at 12 and 6? There is no play. I though that was for ball joints though. 9 and 3 there is no play either. In my past experience with wheel bearings going, they get louder as speed increases. at 80mph it seems silent..Why is that?

 

[DrDusty86]

My CV's have about 40k on them. They feel tight as well..no play.
The wheel bearing I priced is about $40 for a timkin and about $20 to have it pressed in the hub.

Yes, That bearing was replaced back in 08' with the CVs.

 

[wander2039]

The Focus does that... waited too long to rotate the tires. Someday I'll get the rear-end lined up and probably new shocks also.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
My 99' Escort is litterly driving me crazy

The word you're looking for is "literally". Although I doubt you actually mean that; if you did, you'd be in an asylum by now.

Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
I Have been hearing a "howl" noise from the front drivers side tire. It comes and goes I "think" depending on road quality.

It probably has more to do with which way the road-surface slopes, and which way you need to nudge the steering wheel to keep the car going straight.

You'll probably find that, while driving in a straight line, you can induce the noise if you hold the steering wheel a bit to one side or the other. You'll probably also find that the noise will occur when you encounter a very gentle curve in one direction, but not in the other.

If the above is true, then the wheel bearing is rusted and is in need of replacement.

 

[DrDusty86]

No to be too anal, but if the WB is rusted I HAVE MAJOR issues.

 

[DrDusty86]

Eric,
Is it like I described with going silent at 80mph+ and noisy at 40-60mph? I just don't want to throw money at a wheel bearing that might not be the cause.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
No to be too anal, but if the WB is rusted I HAVE MAJOR issues.

Why is that?

The backside of the bearing is usually protected only by a rubber lip, which eventually wears and lets in water. It's normal for FWD wheel bearings to get noisy after so many years.

In any case, next time you drive the car, perform the tests I outlined above. They will tell you whether or not the wheel bearing is bad.

 

[yonyon]

What Tegger said.

 

[abycat]

I have actually seen quite a few bearings with rust in them. Either the balls or next to where they ride. Im pretty sure the wb is toast.

 

[DrDusty86]

I got a Timken bearing and seal. Now just need the time to yank the knuckle. Big job??? I can't remember.
Dusty