[kajamo240]

How difficult of a fix is this? There is quite a bit of humming when I am driving straight and some clicking when turning...

I am looking to do it my self in my garage but would like to make sure that I am not getting over my head before I start.

Any suggestions, tricks or hints would be appreciated also!

Thanks everyone!

 

[yvm_22]

I'm also having the same humming sound when I'm over 40 or 50 miles. Also

when moving at 15 mph (for instance about to get to a traffic light) I feel like

I'm getting a constant small bump on the road but actually the pavement is

completely flat. I took it to a mechanic and they checked inner and outer tie

roads on both side and other parts that have to do with alignment and he didn't

find any fault on them but he believes that it would be the drive axles either left

or right or both . It will be nice if someone could help us and

give us some hints!!!!

 

[Edge10984]

I would say that it is simply the wheel bearing, I have had a few of these go out and make the same sounds you are both describing. I would Only replace the bearings for now and see what happens after. More then likely, the problem will be gone.

 

[Drunken Elvis]

There are plenty of of how to videos on youtube dealing with wheel bearings and axle assemblies.

 

[yvm_22]

I would say that it is simply the wheel bearing, I have had a few of these go out and make the same sounds you are both describing. I would Only replace the bearings for now and see what happens after. More then likely, the problem will be gone.

But I've been told that if there's no movement in the tire when grabbing it

with my two hands in the left and right side and top and bottom side and try

to jiggle it then there's no problem with the bearings.

I've taken my car to two different mechanics both have test-driven the car.

They both realized of the annoying shaking over 20 mph, they also noticed

the constant bumping when moving anywhere from 0-20 miles (this is when it

is really noticeable, like if there's a little no-deep hole on the street every 2

feet) And those two mechanics checked and balanced the tires. They also did

alignment (there was no need for it). And still they didn't find the reason for

it. I even bought new tires three months ago and still nothing. So I feel that

this problem is never going to be fixed. I don't know what to do to this car>

 

[Drunken Elvis]

Consider the following.

Try rotating the tires, front to back. Does the noise follow them?

Shaking, grabbing, twisting, rocking a wheel will not find all wheel bearing problems.

Find an empty parking lot, drive in circles at aprox 25 mph, when turning right if the noise/symptoms increase then it's probably related to the left wheel. While turning left if the noise/symptoms increase it's probably related to the right wheel.

Turn the wheel full lock to the right, drive in circles 2mph, do you hear clicking of clunking? If so, The right outer CV joint may be bad. If when doing this turned full left, then the left outer CV joint is suspect.

Driving straight 10mph accelerating slightly, does the car surge or feel like a wheel is oval ? This is axle/CV joint related.

Axle/CV joint problems AND wheel bearings can "hum" at speed.

If you can drive a short highway trip and get under the car quickly, feel the CV joints and wheel hubs, if one is hotter than the rest, that would indicate a problem.

Changing a wheel bearing and or an axle assembly is not a job of an inexperienced owner but it you change an axle, I suggest you replace the inner axle to transmission seal at the same time.

 

[Edge10984]

Consider the following.

Try rotating the tires, front to back. Does the noise follow them?

Shaking, grabbing, twisting, rocking a wheel will not find all wheel bearing problems.

Find an empty parking lot, drive in circles at aprox 25 mph, when turning right if the noise/symptoms increase then it's probably related to the left wheel. While turning left if the noise/symptoms increase it's probably related to the right wheel.

Turn the wheel full lock to the right, drive in circles 2mph, do you hear clicking of clunking? If so, The right outer CV joint may be bad. If when doing this turned full left, then the left outer CV joint is suspect.

Driving straight 10mph accelerating slightly, does the car surge or feel like a wheel is oval ? This is axle/CV joint related.

Axle/CV joint problems AND wheel bearings can "hum" at speed.

If you can drive a short highway trip and get under the car quickly, feel the CV joints and wheel hubs, if one is hotter than the rest, that would indicate a problem.

Changing a wheel bearing and or an axle assembly is not a job of an inexperienced owner but it you change an axle, I suggest you replace the inner axle to transmission seal at the same time.

I completely agree with this.

 

[yvm_22]

Thanks a lot Drunken Elvis for such a complete troubleshooting guide. I know for sure that is not realeted to any of the tires because since I bought this car 3 years ago it always had this humming sound when driving straight and oval-tire feeling, since then I rotated the tires several times and lately I bought new tires and still the humming sound was there.

One thing that intrigues me is that two years ago I took it to the mechanic and changed the passenger side inner tie-rod after that the humming sound went away when driving straight but now I feel it when I'm over 40 mile and turning left on highway curves. Would this sign tell me that the defective one is the right (passenger) side CV JOINT. What do you think DRUNKEN ELVIS?

I'm still feeling the oval tire when I'm from 0-20 miles, wether I'm increasing or decreasing speed. So for sure this will be the CV joint(s). Now I need to check which one it is. Thanks again!!!

 

[Drunken Elvis]

Troubleshooting a vehicle is hard enough when you can put your hands on it and a thousand times harder over the net. I can't really tell you any more. I would guess the axles and bearings on your car have a lot of time on them, so replacing one of these components, even if it is not the cause of the noise, is still of some value as they are already close to the end of their life. My money is on the right inner CV joint. Keep in mind it's a gamble. I have had good luck with this supplier. Good Luck !
http://www.primechoiceautoparts.com/c-50-axle-shafts-mmy-CHEVROLET-MALIBU-2000.aspx

 

[yvm_22]

All right guys I got an update. I took the car to the balance and alignment place

and they found out that the rear driver side tire had a bubble in it and therefore

the jumping filling when driving from 0-20 miles per hour soooo I bought a new set of tires for the back and everything else history. But still I have the humming

sound, that means that I need to replace the hub assembly with the bearings.

I'll keep you posted!!!!

 

[yvm_22]

I just took the car to the mechanic yesterday and changed both front hub and bearing assembly and the humming sound is gone Yeaaaahhh.

But now I still fill it shaking after 60 mph. When I get to 80 mph, I don't feel secure driving at that speed I need to slow down. Remeber from my last post that I bought two brand new balanced tires and put them in the front of the car and the ones that were in the front I put them in the back and they were also balanced.

What could be making the car shake? I'm out of options right now. Since the mechanic said that everything else looked perfectly fine .

 

[DrivenDaily]

Something I learned from a tire website is that you want the best tread in the rear no matter if you have FWD or RWD. It allows the rear to track better so you can feel it sooner with the steering wheel and act quickly. The video showed 2 identical cars going around a corner on a test track. The one with good rubber on the rear stayed in the curve, but the other had its tail spin out and it was all over.

I never would have thought that until I saw that video.

 

[Heretic88]

Question I have 00 Malibu and Have a clanking sound while I drive in My driveway it's a dirt road (Washboard) I'm thinking it may be My Drive axle? B'cuz I've owned a Chevy Blazer and that was literally clanking about loosely... But I while I was out and took a left turn into a Parking space it felt as though My right tire? Jumped! I parked with my steering wheel turned left my driver side tire was turned kind of alot and The passenger side just looked slightly turned??? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated Idk if this issue is of topic... Sucks too just bought as is!

 

[DrivenDaily]

Washboard + 15-year-old car = Noises. You could have struts/shocks making noise, suspension parts, steering parts, and even hub bearings. Muffler or pipes.

If the right tire jumped (?) while turning left you could have a CV joint failing.

Way too many things and too little data to steer you in the right direction.