Bad wheel beaings?

[SirFoxx]

Just a quick question this time --

On my '88, I am now getting a whirring sound from the front end when the car is in motion, even when it is in neutral. My friend and I am pretty sure it is the wheel bearings, but I just wanted a second opinion here on the forum. Thanks!

[xirdneh]

If noise starts or increases when turning left the right bearing is bad, turning right its the left

[SirFoxx]

I will keep that in mind! The noise is there going in a straight line, noise increases as the speed increases, starting around 30mph. I don't think it is diff related.

[Petros]

best way to tell is to jack it up and remove the wheel, than rotate the hub by hand feeling the bearing. If it is rough, it needs bearings. also, if there is any play in the bearings, likely it is shot. should be smooth and tight when you rotate the hub by hand.

[splatterdog]

Feeling the coil spring while rotating the tire works very well. The spring amplifies the roughness. What xirdneh said is mostly true. But I have had enough that were completely opposite of what the test drive indicated that if I can't feel it in the spring, I use a mechanics stethoscope on the knuckle while the front tires are spun in the air with the engine. Stethoscopes are super cheap and much better than using a screwdriver.

I had one car really mess with me. Thought it was LF by driving it but it was RR! I haven't trusted just a test drive for wheel bearings in quite a while..