Here's a stumper: At low speeds, my fiancés car makes gentle vibrations, that can be felt in the steering wheel, as well as throughout the vehicle. They seem to be directly related to tire speed, not engine speed (I've shifted into neutral and revved the engine to be sure). At 40+ MPH, it makes a howling noise (constant, not really a thump, more of a whir), that sounds a lot like wind noise, but is loud enough to drown out the radio at low volume. Again, related to tire speed, not engine speed. The noise seems to be coming from the front, drivers-side area. But, as SOON as I touch the brakes, the noise instantly ceases, even though I'm NOT pushing the pedal down far enough to actually stop.
The vehicle in question is a 1997 Chevy Cavalier, 110K miles, 2.2L engine, (of course) 4 cyl, automatic trans.

I've checked front brake rotors and pads on both sides, and drums and pads on the rear. They have plenty of material left, and do not appear glazed or pitted. The wheels have little or no play, so I don't believe it is a wheel bearing. When I shift into neutral and allow the engine to idle, then shift back into gear, I don't hear a thump, which would indicate that the CV joints are unrelated (I would assume). The wheels do not appear to have lumps or bumps, or be out of balance. It handles quite well, aside from the noise, I just can't for the life of me figure out what the danged noise is! Any suggestions?

 

i betcha it's the wheel bearings ,the cast and camber could be off putting undo pressure on a bearing .or it could be a ball joint putting presure on a bearing . if it were a cv joint it sould only make the growling noise when turning around a corner

 

it def. sounds like a wheel bearing i had that problem before

 

I'll 3rd the bearing. Jack up the tires & check for play. If you put your hands at 3 & 9 on the tire & press with each hand, one at a time, you might find some play in there. Even jacked, the tire should have no play in it.
You said your tires have little or no play..... did you do as I stated above?

Ball joints don't normally make any noise, just when the tire is jacked up & you put your hands under the tire & lift you 'feel' a clunk.

Also, check the power steering fluid level. Might be a long shot, but my truck had a fluid leak & made the pump howl like a banshee.
Walter

 

You check wheelbearing play from the 6 and 12 positions... 3 and 9 tests steering components

 

Yep, that's what I meant..... thanks for the correction.

 

I'd have to be a fourth to say sounds like a wheel bearing...

 

The mystery noise is this: Your wear indicators on your front pads are rubbing against the rotors. This is to warn you that your front brakes need replacing before they go metal to metal and have to replce front rotors. The clue to this is that the noise goes away when applying brakes.
If it was a wheel bearing the noise would remain constant even with brakes applied.

 

I had the same thing happen to me with my 2003 cavalier back in 09, Drove us all crazy untill I went to of all places a tranny garage. This guy was always good and I thought he might have the answer. Guess what he did have the answer. It turned out to be that the tire lug nuts were not on tight and made the tire wabble driving down the road. The sounds it made changed as you would step on the brakes or let off the gas.