Steering rumbling

Hello!

I have not driven my Sonata 2000 V6 for a while until today and was
unpleasantly surprised to hear some rumbling coming from the front. I
noticed that when the steering wheel is straight or to the left the
rumbling persists, if the wheel is to the right it diminishes or even
completely disappears at some angle. It is also proportional to the
car's speed.

Any ideas what might the problem be.

Your response is greatly appreciated

 

Sounds like a front hub bearing.

 

Thanks!

Any idea how to verify that for sure?

 

Jack up the front end and grab the wheel at the top and bottom and try
to rock it toward and away from you. If there's any play in the bearing,
you'll feel it. Sometimes if you spin a wheel with a bad bearing, you
can hear a gritty sound.

 

If you have a safe place and setup, you could jack the front wheels off the
ground and operate the car in gear and listen for a humming noise from one
of the wheels.

 

That will probably detect a problem sooner than the "shake test", since
a bad bearing will make noise before it develops appreciable play. Do
this only with jack stands - NOT a jack. Apply the emergency brake,
chock the rear wheels and DO NOT rev the engine. Just start the car, put
it in gear and let the wheels spin.

 

Thanks, guys!

My rear right wheel hub had to be replaced recently so I just got two
front wheel bearings along with the brake discs and pads to get my car
back in shape.It will be cheaper to do it all in once.

Thanks again

 

Beware! You'll need a press to remove and install the front bearing from
the knuckle. If you don't have one available, be prepared to take the
knuckle to a machine shop. You may also want to get the retaining snap
rings for the front hub bearings.