Subaru road noise

I hope everyone is having a meaningful Memorial Day!

I?ve been working on my daughters 06 Subaru AWD Forester and can?t find the source of a growling road noise. It has about 165k miles.

The noise sounds like a bad tire that?s about half scalloped pretty bad on half the tire - in other words half rumbly and half smooth. It is very noticeable at parking lot speed all the way up to 55. You can even feel it in the steering wheel slightly.

It does it in neutral or under power - but is quieter when veering to the left than right while going down the road. The tires are all good with no bent wheels or anything like that. There are no flat spots or scalloped edges or anything. All about 1/2 to 2/3 tread left.

I thought I had a bad wheel bearing (one wheel was draggy while jacked up), but found a stuck brake caliper piston. I got it freed up - and that wheel no longer drags but it didn?t affect the noise. The driveline u-joints also feel fine and are not heating or anything...

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to look for?? The cv joints also feel normal with no torn boots or anything...


Thanks,
Howard

cv joint boot does not have to bad for them to go out 165k more the likely joint

I'd bet money on a wheel bearing. I don't think you can really feel any roughness in them with the cv shaft attached, unless they are really bad. I've never had much luck figuring out which side is making the noise either. At 165k, they are probably both about due...

Left wheel bearing. You won't be able to feel it by hand but the veering noise gives it away. $35 on ebay.

Thanks for the advice!

I?ve also got another car I suspect a bad wheel bearing, but it seems amazing to me that a wheel bearing could be rough enough to make a noise, but not go out very quickly after that. Both cars have been growling for several weeks.

Would it always be heating up if it were growling? Or could it also run cool??




Thanks,
Howard

did one today on an aveo

tools bearing press thing
and the slide hammer with deep cupped hub thing

add a couple of thos fancy fulcrum pivoting tie rod ball joint press bolt end thingies
cut off grinder wheel to get the hub out of the bearing thin after you jerk it from car
Maybe some large snap ring pliers

Wheel bearing. Our ?02 Subaru had a similar noise. Changed the correct bearing and no more noise.

Bearing it is. They only make noise when loaded. They are a dual row angular contact cartridge bearing. I own 3 Subarus. Jim

I'll agree with wheel bearing.

They can roar for a long time without heating up or causing any other problems.

Still a good idea to go ahead and fix it.

Getting the spindle housing off is not a bad job, but the bearings have to be pressed out and back in.

I remember a lot of talk about CV joints in Subaru. That would be the first thing mechanics would look to change.

Sure sounds like a bad front wheel bearing/hub.

I'll join the chorus and say wheel bearing too. A neighbor has had a few Subarus and had to change a wheel bearing or 2 on all of them at some time or other.

Quite to the left noisy to the right 80% of the time it will be the left side...

Jack it up spin the wheel and put your hand on the coil spring the spring will magnify the noise on the bad side and you will feel it in the spring... If you get real lucky the wheel bearing will have some play in it... And yes if bad enoufh it will be hotter a thermal image camera will pick it up but I doubt you will feel it with your hand...

On some you will need chassis ears...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyRoLwbvCp4

Can drive these Subaru?s and japanese fwd cars for 100k on howling wheel bearing and not feel it by jacking it up. Have changed dozens and they have to be pretty darn bad to get loose.

Thanks for all the advice fellows!

It was a wheel bearing! Just as a data point in case anyone is
curious - I took it out for 3-5 miles and then checked each bearing
with a thermometer gun. One side showed about 3 degrees warmer
- and that also fit with yalls suggestions of veering one way or another to
tell...

So I got it apart - and it was rough - the race showed some visible
wear for sure. I don?t know how it wasn?t hotter - like how a combine
or baler bearing will get, but got a new one pressed in and it runs
smooth as glass now!!

Thanks again!
Howard

Thanks for posting the update, it makes the learning better for all of us.