~40MPH Humming from Driver rear... wheel bearing?

[jutny]

I know people talk about the B5 wheel bearings being weak.

anyway i've got a hum that gets the loudest and most noticeable around 40 that comes from the driver rear. Is this the typical bearing failure noise?

i also put different wheels on the rear a couple of days ago after hitting a pothole, and it could be from one of the "new" tires being on, but the set of 4 of those wheels used to be on my car and never made this noise.

opinions?

[nocturnals4]

Does the noise seem to come and go as you turn right or left? If so then most likely a bearing. Or try putting the new tires in a different position on the car like on the front or switch sides, to see if it may be from the tires.

[Sleeeper X]

+1. It could be your tires slightly outa balance.... What you could do is buy the wheel bearing its about 40bucks a side ::you need to do both:: and keep driving if it gets worse then its deff a wheel bearing.

[rick_chicago]

Find a lightly travelled road, get her up to 40, and start the slalom. If it goes away when you're doing the left turn, it's the bearing.

[nocturnals4]

^ it could also go away doing a right turn depending on which side it is and whether it is the inner or outer race that has gone bad.

[SurferD]

Sounds like a bearing to me if your tires/rims are good.

[2k1audiS4]

^ it could also go away doing a right turn depending on which side it is and whether it is the inner or outer race that has gone bad.

Listen to him you must...............

[Joeski]

hahah this is great i jus got the same symptons on my passenger side rear im gna try switching my tire tommorw anyone know best place to order wheel berrings

[rick_chicago]

I paid about $56 (IIRC) from Riverside Audi. It was my driver's rear.

[jutny]

i figured it was the bearing, i'd done the side to side loading thing and it confirms it but that would also exacerbate the noise if it were tire related, just not as much.

oh well, time to do the wheel bearings! i gotta throw in a few new control arms also. Someone needs to make solid bushing replacements for the front upper arms at the very least, first ones to go every time in my experience.

[quattroSD]

Listen to him you must...............

^^what 2k said.