We have a 2001 V70 with a front-end saga going on.

A couple of months ago, we started feeling a wobble/pulsing in the front right of the car that corresponds to the tire rotations (I say it's the front right; my partner feels like it's more toward the middle). It was accompanied by that rhythmic "womp, womp, womp" sound that increased and decreased with speed. The sound is the worst at around 45-55mph, and it pretty much goes away at highway speeds. It also pretty much goes away when we turn right.

We assumed wheel bearings. We took it to our mechanic. They test drove it and also decided it was wheel bearings, but when they put the car on the lift, there wasn't any play in the wheel, so they couldn't be positive. They said we could drive it until it got worse, rather than pay $500 to have the wheel hub replaced, and then they could put it up on the lift again and see if there was any play to be sure.

So, that's what we've been doing. It's gotten gradually worse, and now there's sort of a grinding noise occasionally when we turn left. We're going to take it back into the shop, but unfortunately we can't afford to until mid-September. (However, we are going to be out-of-state in a rental car from September 1-11).

So, a couple of questions:

1) Are we risking life and limb of both ourselves and our car by driving it?

2) I still think this is wheel bearings, though my partner thinks it might be something bigger. Could it still be wheel bearings?

 

1) Not really, but it is not the tire correct?

2) I do not really see wheel bearings have play good or bad, so very possible.

 

What do you mean is the tire correct? Like, is it okay? The tires are okay, yes.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for wheel bearings, and not a bigger issue. Thanks for your feedback!

 

I'm Having the same issue. I took my car to the dealer and the test drove it and confirmed that it was my Wheel bearing(front Right). I called around and searched the internet and found a few places that have the part for way less than what the dealer charges. $400 for the parts and $250 for labour. Im gonna tackle the project tomorrow. Apparently its not that hard to do. Here is a sites that carry the part. The got pretty good pricing on parts.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exe...ategory_id/103

 

yes, no internal defects.



The wheel bearing is not too hard, air tools!!!

 

Had the same problem/symptoms and it was the wheel bearing (in my case the front left). Took it to local Firestone shop and they replaced it for @$300 with labor.