Pontiac Repair: 2002 Firehawk, pinion bearings, wheel bearings

Question
I just purchased a 6-speed, LS1, 2002 Trans Am Firehawk with 127568 miles. The rear of the car is making a rumbling noise that gets lounder with increased speed. I don't know if it is the wheel bearings or the rear end. Is there any way to tell which it is?

Answer
Hi Ken:

when you are driving the car down the road turn the wheel to the right and to the left if the noise chnages it's an axle bearing because you are loading and unloading the weight on the axles. if the noise is consistant it's either pinion bearings or differential side bearing's that have gone bad. If it's a higher pitched noise it's a pinion bearing. if it's a lower rumbling noise it's a side bearing or axle bearing noise. Reguardless if any of the bearings has gone bad all of them should be replaced. there is no filer in the differential so if a bearing has gone bad that metal is floating around in the oil and it gets inot the other bearings in the differential. Good luck :)