What does a bad wheel bearing sound like? Would it make noise when turning the steering wheel?

Question

What type of sound would indicate a bad wheel bearing?

What would it sound like, and when would you hear the sound?

When turning the steering wheel, would you hear anything?

Answer 1

it sounds like a low rumbling noise.  You may feel a light vibraiton in the steering wheel as well.  Sometimes there is a noise when turnning the wheel but that noise normally comes with a bad tie rod or bad rack,

Answer 2

A bad wheel bearing will whine or hum as your going down the road and when you turn the steering wheel as your going down the road it will change the sound it makes or the noise sometimes quits until straightened out again.

Answer 3

Depending on which side it is coming from, turning the wheel may cause it to be louder than when you are just driving in a straight line. It may be a roaring noise or a sort of muffled scraping.

Answer 4

Well on my car which is a 1985 Toyota Corolla RWD, it never made a sound what so ever. In fact the only way anyone knew it was bad was when it was jacked up and then you had to jiggle the tire, then you would feel it loose. Any other wheel noises were caused by certain parts hitting the brakes(which I fixed), power steering R&P, and maybe a tie rod(which I replaced). I'm sure it can make a sound though if the bearing wasn't packed right which would cause the bearings to burn, but my car's wheel bearings where always packed right so that may explain why it never made a sound even when they were bad.

Answer 5

The sound resembles a low steady moaning sound when driving in a straight line. Usually the sound gets lowder as speed increases. Sitting still and turning the steering wheel wouldn't make any noise. The wheel must be rolling to hear a bad wheel bearing.  

Answer 6

It can sound everywhere from a little whistle, when it first starts to go, all the way to a roaring grinding type noise. The easiest way to check is to jack the front end up and place it on a jack stand(better safe than sorry). Then you grab the top and bottom of the wheel and try to wiggle it with your hands. If you feel any play, and your a-arms aren't moving, then you wheel bearing is probably bad. It can also be the pivot points at the hub, but if it is them, then someone watching will be able to see if the hub is moving with the wheel or not. If the hub is moving with the wheel, then you have some bad joints, if not, then your bearings are worn out. Good luck.

Answer 7

The sound a wheel bearing makes differs on different cars. A good way to tell is to jack up the front-end of the car and grab the wheel. Than jerk the well back and forth have someone watching your A arms and ball joints to make sure its not those.  If you tire has a lot of movement than you probably have a bad bearing.

Answer 8

It sounds like a really bad loud whrrrrrrring noise that usually occrs after the car reaches a certain speed such as 55 or so. It wopu;dn't make a difference if you are turning or not. You might be hearing a bad cv jiont & it sound like a kinda clucking sound & you mostly hear those when turning.

Answer 9

it could be a bad c.v.joint would make a clicking sound when turning.a wheel bearing would make a growling sound .turning should not make a difference in sound. it depends on make and model of car

Answer 10

whenever the wheel is turning, you will hear the noise. it usually sounds like a grinding noise. sitting still and turning the steering wheel, you should,nt hear nothing, just when the car is moving.

Answer 11

it sounds like a rumbling noise. can be heard when load is applied to the bearing e.g turning corners.