Groaning noise - wheel bearings?

[sparkydave]

I've been getting a groaning noise while rolling, goes up in pitch as I'm going faster, still present if I'm coasting in neutral. I was starting to think transmission or differential, and checked the oil levels. Transmission was low (couldn't feel oil at the hole), but changed it and refilled it. Differential oil level was fine. On the test drive I found out if I make a hard turn to the right the noise goes away, so now I'm starting to think wheel bearings. Is there a a nice way of determining the health of them? I figured I could jack the front wheels and feel for excessive play, or repack and inspect them. How about the rears? I cleaned and repacked them once, but that's it.

 

[nomad]

Grease your drive shaft first. Should be able to hear exactly where its coming from. I am to deaf for that, so, in my case, I would take my wife along!!

Kurt.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

There is a hidden zerk fitting for the driveshaft in the front that is easy to forget to grease. Guessing the tip of the yoke needs to be greased as well so it slides back and forth freely.

 

[Guest]

Driveshaft noise won't vary under turning load although you should grease it anyway. Aside from a visual inspection or jacking each wheel up and hand turning feeling for roughness, there isn't any fool proof way of testing that I've found. I've seen loose bearings be perfectly quiet, I've seen bad bearings shut up under load or get noisier under the same condition. Jack up the front and spin each by hand and see how they sound and feel, then same with the back with one axle removed.

 

[jhorton3]

The only other way I could think of to isolate would be to jack the rear end up on jack stands and have the car running in gear. If the noise is present then it's something in the driveline. You've got to be really careful if you use this approach. Don't want to see a post that you wrecked your wife's china cabinet as the car dropped of the stands and bolted through the garage wall into the dining room.

 

[JPSmit]

Don't want to see a post that you wrecked your wife's china cabinet as the car dropped of the stands and bolted through the garage wall into the dining room.

Sheesh, turn the car around, or run it in reverse.