Ok So I've got a 2000 Chevrolet cavalier and just in the past week it has started making a growling noise in the front end. It doesn't get worse swerving left or right like a wheel bearing plus I just replaced them about 3 months ago. I thought it was my brakes cuz they were over due for being changed but I put on new pads and rotors but no change. It is a constant noise of a rubbing growling bearing but I've been all over it and can't find it. It is constant no matter the speed but it does get more intense the faster u go. And no it's not the tires they are almost brand new only about 5k and it's not a dust shield. I know cars and I've tried all the obvious stuff I just want a sure fire way to pin point it so I don't drop a ton of money in parts.

 

when bearings get really bad then can make noise all the time regardless of how you load or unload them. I've had cheap after market bearing assemblies make noise right out of the box. I would jack the car up and spin the tires and listen. the best way would be to raise both front wheels off the ground with jack stands and have someone run the tires up to 50mph; then listen to each wheel bearing with a mechanics stethoscope. While you in there listen to other bearing assemblies in the transaxle...although those problems are rare for these cars.

 

It's deffinently not the wheel bearings they are lifetime warranty timpkens that are only a few months old.

 

posting a video would help


if you can get it to make the noise when the car is on jackstands; use a stethoscope to isolate it. if it only does it when driving you will need chassis ears.