Bad wheel bearing (?) in 2006 Sonata
 

Hey guys, hoping someone can help. Going to write this out , partly just to see what I have done in writing - sometimes that helps me...LOL

I have a 2006 Sonata and it started a (very) loud humming noise , which sure sounds like its coming from the rear to me, just cant tell for sure which side.

I had swapped in a spare tire one at a time and the noise stayed exactly the same each test.

The tires were just about shot so just had new tires put on, and an alignment. (Talk about an OUCH......$720........ :pullinghair:) and those are just average tires.......but I digress...........

While it rides better and steers better now, still have the same noise.

The noise starts at around 25 mph and gets louder as the speed goes up. The noise goes away when I take a left turn but is the same for right turns or straight.

I am thinking its a rear wheel bearing......the one on the right?

Jacked up the rear and spun the wheels.....no excess noise and no play in either. That was confirmed by the guy who did the tire change and alignment.

It is not an immediate danger, since there is no play....but the noise tells me that it is inevitable, if it is the bearings.

Still feel likes it has to be a rear bearing to me....or more accurately, a hub assembly, on this car.

The tire place (firestone), wants $315 for ONE hub and $75 to install it. Ouch.

The local parts houses want $150-160 each......

Rock auto wants anywhere from $65 to $150 depending on brand. Timken is $100, Moog is $120. All the warranties are the same, 12 months.

Was thinking I would just get two of the Timkens and swap them both out and be sure.

111k miles on the car so if one is toast the other is sure to follow.

Looks at the haynes' service book and it appears to be a bolt in sort of deal.....remove the wheel and disk, speed sensor, 4 bolts and it drops out.

Just looking for advice, thoughts, etc.

I guess worse comes to worse, I will change out the hubs for nothing......LOL