PeterR1

The car has 116K mi., and recently started 'skating' and wandering when driving in a straight line. It has a vibration at 68-72 mph that I can feel in the steering wheel, and won't hold a line while cornering- (set the car into a turn and it changes direction a bit on its own). Also, the car pulls left, and the pull increases with speed. There's a rumbling noise from the front end, but I'm running new General Altimax tires and they're LOUD. Had the front end checked about 5K mi. ago when the tires were put on. No problems found.
My guess is it's wheel bearing(s), but I know bad CVs can cause funny things, so I'd like some feedback from all of you. Or some of you anyway.
Thanks

brandoe91

iTrader: (1)

When was the last time you did an alignment? also check cv boots and lower control arms.

SChema

iTrader: (2)

You can rule out some things fairly quickly. Jack up the side of the car you suspect is making the noise; just enough where the wheel is off the ground.

Grab the wheel at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and start wiggling back and forth. A good bearing will not have any play.

You can wiggle and 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock to check the tie rod ends. If you have any play, chances are the bearing or tie rod ends are bad.

While the car is up, check the barrel of the wheel for any grease, that a good way to see if a CV is out. If none is found look at the CV boot, if it's torn then that would need to be replaced.

Just from your symptoms, most likely a bearing is out.

PeterR1

Thanks, 3Rotor and Brandoe. I pried and pulled as suggested, but couldn't really tell where the play was. While under there, I saw a couple of torn CV boots and an oily strut cartridge on both RF and RR. So this weekend I installed two drive axles and 4 quickstruts. They were needed regardless of the vibration problem. I took the car back to my garage and had them do a "front end check" and alignment. They said all parts were good, but I wonder how thorough the inspection was. I figure they saw the work done and decided there wasn't anything to sell me. The car rides like new, except...it still pulls left, and there's now a 60-70 mph vibration. I had no time to get the tires balanced, or do anything else, but I'm guessing it's a wheel bearing. Next step is a balance of all 4 wheels, tire rotation in case it's a tire pull I'm feeling, then putting the front end on stands and rechecking the wheels/hubs for play.
wish me luck, and thanks for the advice.