eb2143
Top Post Dawg
Car is a 2001 Jetta with 234,300 miles with modifications as in signature. The entire suspension has been replaced (no component older than 75,000 miles). It has had three front wheel bearing replacements (front right x2, last by me at around 210,000, front left also done at 210,000 when I was wrong about which side was failing). One of the rear bearings has been replaced because I needed to get to the dust shield, but I cannot recall which one. The CV joints and axles are original and untouched. No recent (10,000 miles) work to the car.
So, I would like help diagnosing a vibration and noise when drifting right at higher speeds. Symptoms are very unlike the two wheel bearings I have had, but with N = 2, I wanted to see if this could still fit with a wheel bearing.
The vibration is not noticeable until speeds of around 55 mph and is mild at all speeds above that. It begins immediately right-of-center and makes highway driving annoying because every rightward correction is met with a vibration through the entire car (passenger can feel it) with an associated noise that I wouldn't describe as a steady hum but more like a slightly cyclical hum (sounds like tire noise). The noise appears to be coming from the front, but is difficult to localize. If I had to guess, I would say front left.
Interestingly, the noise disappears when the turn is tightened up and load increases: I hear it drifting right for lane changes or small corrections to course and on slight highway bends to the right, but it is not present on tighter highway corners and will disappear if I decide to make my lane change quickly. I've never had a wheel bearing that did this. Again, it is not noticeable at speeds below about 55 mph.
I was convinced it was a tire issue so took my snows off a little early yesterday. I did find a nail in the inner sidewall of the FL, but the vibration and noise is unchanged with the all-seasons on.
The has been going on for about 1,500 miles and has not gotten perceptibly worse. There are no unusual wear marks present on the snow tires I took off yesterday. The car tracks straight and true, though is maybe a little more easily blown around by passing trucks or cross winds.
Wheel bearing? Tie Rods? Control arm bushings? CV joint? Ball joint? Strut mount? Motor mount? Help!
So, I would like help diagnosing a vibration and noise when drifting right at higher speeds. Symptoms are very unlike the two wheel bearings I have had, but with N = 2, I wanted to see if this could still fit with a wheel bearing.
The vibration is not noticeable until speeds of around 55 mph and is mild at all speeds above that. It begins immediately right-of-center and makes highway driving annoying because every rightward correction is met with a vibration through the entire car (passenger can feel it) with an associated noise that I wouldn't describe as a steady hum but more like a slightly cyclical hum (sounds like tire noise). The noise appears to be coming from the front, but is difficult to localize. If I had to guess, I would say front left.
Interestingly, the noise disappears when the turn is tightened up and load increases: I hear it drifting right for lane changes or small corrections to course and on slight highway bends to the right, but it is not present on tighter highway corners and will disappear if I decide to make my lane change quickly. I've never had a wheel bearing that did this. Again, it is not noticeable at speeds below about 55 mph.
I was convinced it was a tire issue so took my snows off a little early yesterday. I did find a nail in the inner sidewall of the FL, but the vibration and noise is unchanged with the all-seasons on.
The has been going on for about 1,500 miles and has not gotten perceptibly worse. There are no unusual wear marks present on the snow tires I took off yesterday. The car tracks straight and true, though is maybe a little more easily blown around by passing trucks or cross winds.
Wheel bearing? Tie Rods? Control arm bushings? CV joint? Ball joint? Strut mount? Motor mount? Help!
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