My 2006 Grand Prix seems to like snacking on front wheel bearing/hub assemblies. Per the Carfax report I got before buying it, one or both front wheel bearing/hub assemblies were replaced at about 62k miles, the front passenger side was replaced with a Duralast unit the day before I bought it with about 130k, and that one was then replaced with a Timken three months/3k miles later due to it already starting to make noise even though my mechanic could not find any play. That was about 20 months/24k miles ago and the front passenger side has a noticeable "whop whop" at low speeds and humming/growling at higher speeds once again. The noises increase when turning either way, leading me to believe both have gone bad. However, when I checked the wheels for play today, there was none! Could one or both assemblies be bad and not have any noticeable play? Is there anything else I can do to get a positive diagnosis?
I plan on replacing the front struts, strut bearings, and both outer tie rods within the next few weeks and am looking at a $250 bill for the necessary parts, so while adding $200 for two wheel bearing/hub assemblies will not break the bank and replacing them will not add much time, I would rather spend that money and time elsewhere if it not truly needed here.
I plan on replacing the front struts, strut bearings, and both outer tie rods within the next few weeks and am looking at a $250 bill for the necessary parts, so while adding $200 for two wheel bearing/hub assemblies will not break the bank and replacing them will not add much time, I would rather spend that money and time elsewhere if it not truly needed here.