Rear road noise louder with speed? Not tires!

[evo-r]

So I brought the car to 2 different shops and one thinks it's some bearing in the differential and the other thinks it's the rear passenger wheel bearing. I'm thinking it's the rear passenger wheel bearing because when I sweep the car left and right I only hear the noise when I sweep to the left and the noise disappear when to the right.

Is it possible that in this case some bearing in the differential is bad as well?

[woodsman]

As far as I know, those symptoms could be caused by either problem. I would think the differential repair would be in the $2-3000 range so to me it only makes sense to do the wheel bearing and hope for the best. A rear bearing at Suncoast or Sunset Porsche costs $60-65 and but it'll be far less in an industrial supply house which you could do if you're doing the job yourself; If so, it would be a good time to do the rear brakes, if needed.

[mountainman]

Wheel bearing would be my guess. Had the same symptoms on mine and wheel bearing did the trick

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by evo-r

So I brought the car to 2 different shops and one thinks it's some bearing in the differential and the other thinks it's the rear passenger wheel bearing. I'm thinking it's the rear passenger wheel bearing because when I sweep the car left and right I only hear the noise when I sweep to the left and the noise disappear when to the right.

Is it possible that in this case some bearing in the differential is bad as well?

A good way to isolate the problem is to jack up the back of the car (both sides), put it in neutral, leave the parking brake off, and rotate the wheel as you listen carefully to the source of the noise.

Another thing you can do while the back end is up in the air is grab the wheel and pull one side and then the other toward you, then the top of the tire and the bottom of the tire. If there's play and slop in the wheel, it's a wheel bearing.

[fatmike]

Wheel bearing and/or broken axle.

Don't rule out a broken axle. Fairly common if you hit a NYC pothole...



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