Chevrolet Repair: humming noise, cv axle, chevy monte carlo

Question
QUESTION: 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo with a 3.1l V6.  I have a humming noise coming from the front left side.  Sounds like mud tires on asphalt.  Had the hub bearing assembly replaced but still makes the sound.  Could it be my cv axle?  Thank you in advance.

ANSWER: Hey David,

 Maybe the wrong side was replaced.  The best way to check for a bearing noise is to run it on a hoist and listen to the bearing from underneath while it is running.  I never trust my ears when diagnosing a bearing noise.  YOu would swear it was once side when its actually the other.


Wayne


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QUESTION: I had my wife drive it while I was on the passenger side to see if I heard it on the passenger side and it still sounded like it was the driver side.  I was under it where I work and there is slack in the cv axle.  Is it possible for the cv axle to make this type noise?

Answer
Hey,

  I can't stress enough that you need to listen to a bearing from under the car with either an extension bar or stethoscope on the inner part of the hub.  Ideally we use our chassis ear that has 6 remote transmitters you set up on various parts of the car and channel select the ones you want to listen to.  The acoustics in a car can throw you off so bad I have bet my life on a drivers side bearing and been wrong many times before.