I slide the right front wheel into the side of a curb. IT was solid impact, but I don't think enough to do more than just scuff the edge of the rim (looks like I curbed the tire and also scratched the rim). Anyway, I the next day I was driving down the road and above about 50-60mph I noticed a noise. It is almost a grinding but not quite. It comes and goes about once per second. Noise is something like 0.3 seconds, and then quiet for about 0.7seconds. Just like with a bad wheel bearing, if I turn one way (left) it gets worse, if I turn right it goes away. So I was thinking I might have damaged a wheel bearing. But if it was a rough spot in the bearing, I would think the noise would be more than once per second. Can anyone think of anything else it could be? I haven't taken the wheel off yet to look around for damage, but I plan on doing that this weekend. Thanks for any help. BTW, my car is a 2005 Coupe A/T with 18" wheels.

 

I'm gonna say wheel bearing.

When you're driving slow and you're listening to the noise...and then you speed up...does the frequency of the noise get higher?

 

Its weird. If I am driving slow I don't hear it much if at all. I start noticing it at >50mph. Above that it seems to happen quicker, but the frequency of the noise itself doesn't change, just how often it comes and goes. Does that make sense?

 

yeah definately sounds like a wheel bearing issue my 92 bronco had the rear ones go and and it sounded like a dog whistle in the back seat hooked up to an air compressor but it was a constant noise but only noticed it at high speeds

 

i've read over what you're giving me here pretty carefully over and over again. i'm still going with wheel bearing.

as a certified mechanic i would suggest you start by getting the wheel balanced and if that doesn't do it, almost 100% sure (as far as diagnosing something over the internet goes) that the noise is probably caused by the wheel bearing.

keep in mind, just because your wheel is spinning at 60mph doesn't mean the bearing is too. i believe it spins at half the speed...so in order for you to correctly determine if it's the bearing, you'd have to hit 120mph...if the frequency of the noise has doubled, then it's almost guaranteed to be the wheel bearing.

i'd also recommend not going 120mph or at least be on a dead highway with no one around (most importantly, the cops lol)

 

I had the same problem after hitting a curb last year. I had the Wheel hub/bearing assembly replaced and the knuckle as well. The horrid grinding noise went away, but i still have a faint grinding noise from 20-50 mph only, it does not go away when braking and my car tracks straight

 

Thanks, I will try to get the wheel balanced and then start taking things apart this weekend for a look.

 

I have jacked the car up and taken the wheels off. Both sides look and feel perfect. Very little play if I grab the top of the tire and push and pull on it. Just barely enough to feel. No axial play. And when I rotate the tire it is the quietist I have ever heard on any car I have owned. I did get the car up to higher speeds and noticed the noise came and went at a faster rate the faster I would go. So if at 60mph if the noise is on for 0.4s and off for 0.6s, then at 120 it seemed more like 0.2s on and 0.3s off.

Both the front and rear wheels hit the curb, I guess I should try the rear, but it sounded more like it is the front.

Also, on the front from looking at the manual it looks like hub and bearing are replaced as an assembly. So can you not just replace the bearing?

 

I'm not 100% sure about the G35 but my last car (1997 Camaro) had sealed hub assemblies with the bearings inside and they were pretty damn pricey too.

Unfortunately there isn't a way of just rebuilding the old units if that's the case (without potentially damaging the hub).

 

Yeah, I think that is what the G35 has. On the rear the bearing can be replaced, but you have to remove the axle.