Please help - My car making a humming noise up front
 

Hey guys, just looking for some input and help on what it could be. I haven't jacked the car up just yet to spin the wheels.

Initially, I thought it was the front right wheel bearing, after nailing a very large pothole over the winter at ~50mph which resulted in a destroyed tire & wheel. The noise came about two months ago, (several months after the pothole incident) a light hum at 40-43mph only, and now it has developed into a hum that starts around 20mph and continues all the way up until wind noise silences it out. Now I am thinking (mainly because I'm thinking of all the possibilities) maybe something drivetrain related in the front end.

Any specific things to hear/look/check to properly diagnose a bad wheel bearing? Car just turned over 64,000 miles today. Also, front diff fluid was never changed, only trans.

When I check for a wheel bearing, aside from spinning the wheel and listening (which usually doesn't work unless the bearing is really shot) I put a hand at 12:00 and another at 6:00 and try to rock the wheel. It shouldn't have any play. Now, if it does, especially on the front end, it could be something else like lower ball joint, but it could also be a wheel bearing. You'll have to do more elimination.

However... if your symptom is noise, and it started shortly after your pothole incident, I'd take a long hard look at the tire. It may have been damaged. If it was replaced, maybe there's something wrong with the replacement. I'd suggest swapping it with the spare, or maybe the rear tire on that side to see if the noise changes or goes away or moves to the rear...

Good luck.

I actually had to have the wheel and tore completely replaced at that time. I will try rotating the wheels/tires and try, but I don't think it is related to the wheels/tires. Definitely a drivetrain or wheel bearing thing.

If the incident was bad enough to ruin a tire and wheel, it's possible that something else was damaged as well.

I simply suggested rotating the tires because a) it's possibly the issue and 2) it's easy and by far the cheapest diagnostic to try first.

Best of luck, keep us posted!

Are your tires cupped out on the inside of the tread?

Just driving my car again after installing four brand new tires...still making the humming noise up front. My mind says front diff fluid or wheel bearing now...opinions?

I had same thing happen to me, hitting the pothole. Replaced 1 rim and all four tire.

After 15k miles, car start developed hum at 50mph and got worse after 18k miles even at 40mph - 20mph.

Replaced all four tire, hum went away. Now after 15k miles, it star developed hum again.

I just replaced 2 rear tire 2 weeks ago due to no thread left, but the front tire still have 40%.
Alignment shop told me that my alignment is good, but the front tires has little bit cupping that's why hum is still there.

To get rid of hum noise I need to replace front tire.

I have a noise front tire area, trying to diagnose. I replaced cheap , bad tires for New Michelins, AST3s. Improved a bit.AnyA

It's either wheel bearing or front diff at this point. I checked everything, zero to little play on the front wheels. Fluid level correct in the diff. I'm lost with this thing. It's a very annoying loud hum.

IF the car doesn't have weight on the wheels and you spin it the bearing is not loaded and it may not make the noise, Doesn't mean it isnt' bad.

I can purchase the 4matic front wheel bearings as a unit with the hub correct?I can just change them myself, no press needed.

If wheel bearing and hub assembly is changed, please keep us posted. I'm thinking that my car is having the same issue. I'm not sure if replacing front tire will solve the problem for me.
I may want to change wheel bearing and hub assembly before changing front tire (40% left).

Instead of making a new thread, I'll ask the question here. What is the part number for the wheel hub/bearing? Not separately, I'm looking for the whole unit together. Please & thank you!

It was the wheel bearings. I changed both front bearings out.

FYI, they are made by SKF. Save yourself some coin and get them from elsewhere.