A while ago I slid into a curb on a patch of black ice. Took it to get aligned, the LCA was bent. I replaced that, nearly going insane due to a seized bolt. I drove it afterward and I am hearing a sound not unlike an unbalanced wheel. That sort of helicoptery sound. Switched to my autocross wheels to be sure it wasn't just a weight knocked off the wheel, and I still hear it.

Is this the wheel bearing? I figured if the LCA bent, the wheel bearing should need replacing too, but when I jack it up and rock the wheel, it doesn't budge. And my friend who messed up his wheel bearing a similar way (tooling around in his 4Runner in a snow filled parking lot) had a completely different sound.

 

bump.

 

still could be the bearing. they can be bad and not have play

 

Here is what you do...

Jack up the tire that has noise with a good floor jack and apply Ebrake or block wheels.

Start the car and run it up in the rpm range. The noise should increase with the speed the tire is spinning. You might use 2nd to keep the motor rpm down so you can hear it.

If rear then jack it up and spin. You should feel the roughness in the bearing.

 

Increase in volume, or in rate? I can hear it driving around. It increases in rate as speed goes up. Volume I can't tell really, but I hear it best when decelerating due to less engine noise and it seems loudest at around 40mph.

I think it's the bearing, I just don't want to replace it if I don't have to because I'm short on cash at the moment.
Thx.

 

Yes, rate not volume.

Kinda sounds like a very slow turbo. Almost a whirling sort of noise

 

sometimes they need the weight of the car on them to make the noise so u may not always hear it jacked up

 

what should you do if the noise is coming from the rear.