abeles@mhuxm.UUCP (abeles) (10/17/84)
I would like the advice of the net on a problem with my 81 Omni. About 3-4 months ago, a noise began which is related to road speed, not engine speed. The noise appears to be periodic with the wheel revolution a it is loudest at high speeds though noticable beginning at about 35 MPH. It decreases when accelerating. It vanishes when turning to the right even slightly. It also vanishes when driving in the left lane (when the left part of the car is lower because of grading the highway), for straight-ahead driving. However it then reappears when turning even slightly to the left. I have jacked the car up and tried to shake the wheels. They didn't seem to have excessive play. The wheels have been recently aligned when all shocks were replaced, in fact, since after the noise began. The mileage is pushing 50,000. The car was in one garage which suspected the left front bearing (they ran the car jacked up and thought they heard something in that area). This seems illogical (I thought that the right bearing would be a logical starting place--getting noisy when more weight is on it), but I am willing to believe it. However, I don't want to pay $100 for replacement of one bearing if they're not sure, as you can readily understand. If someone is knowledgeable I would like to hear their opinion. --Joe Abeles