98 legacy AWD ?Wheel pulse? respective to speed.

[legacy93wagon]

Hello. thanks for stopping by. First I have spent a good  hour searching and digging  before I posted this  thread."pulse" and other terms I could think of  brought up a lot of fuel system  stuff but not what I feel is going, IE   please hold your tongue for " do your own research" type replies. We are a community after all :0D 

 

 

The real thread starts here: 

 

1998 Subaru Legacy Wagon 2.5 AWD automatic trans. 

 

I experience a pulse,  " whoosh, whoosh whoosh"  sound and feeling  that picks up and slows down  as the vehicle's speed does ( not engine speed, but vehicle speed) It felt to me like it was coming from the front. 

 

Things I have  done / checked: 

1. New tires and balanced ( needed them  anyways did not fix issue) 

2.  checked  boots at wheels , Front + back, No rips I could see

3. Checked boots at trans ( front axles )  no visible rips

 

Unrelated recent maintenance since : 

oil chance

fuel filter replaced

Air filter service ( K & N type) 

 

 

Any thoughts/ Questions/ links / other threads  related would be greatly appreciated 

[johnceggleston]

does the sound get louder or quieter when you turn, at speed, like an entrance ramp?

try turning both directions.

 

it may be a front wheel bearing.

[legacy93wagon]

does the sound get louder or quieter when you turn, at speed, like an entrance ramp?

try turning both directions.

 

it may be a front wheel bearing.

"you have reached your quota of positive votes for the day" 

 

I will pay close attention to these situations this weekend and report back.

[legacy93wagon]

does the sound get louder or quieter when you turn, at speed, like an entrance ramp?

try turning both directions.

 

it may be a front wheel bearing.

ok, 

 

at about 70 mph the noise does get louder on turns ( I80)  

Noise seems slightly louder when going to the right more that the left but louder  either way vs straight. 

 

Either when on ramps there was no difference, or was so worried about being run over I was unable to notice.

 

Off to read up on wheel bearing until I get your response. 

Thanks. 

[1 Lucky Texan]

all tires the same brand/model/size and close in wear? they must be.

 

does the car jerk or feel like it is resisting tight maneuvers in parking lots? can it idle (or very little gas) thru tight circles on dry pavement smoothly?

 

have the brakes been well maintained?

[legacy93wagon]

all tires the same brand/model/size and close in wear? they must be.

 

does the car jerk or feel like it is resisting tight maneuvers in parking lots? can it idle (or very little gas) thru tight circles on dry pavement smoothly?

 

have the brakes been well maintained?

 All tires are new, same brand, same size same tread pattern, Have not  put in the fwd fuse  to try it like that. 

 

 car does not jerk, parking lot maneuvers seem fine no extra gas is needed. 

 

Brake system, not sure, new to me car so other than brief visual inspection brakes have not gotten any attention  from me

[legacy93wagon]

wowza! wheel bearing looks like a beast of a job, and requires some special tools :0/ replacing whole wheel hub with good bearing a method back yard mechanics often go ? 

[1 Lucky Texan]

yeah, bearing assemblies didn't come in umtil 2005 or so, depending on model.

 

there are 'hub tamers' and various kits you can buy or rent from some parts stores.

 

an intermediate approach would be to take your new bearings, hub if needed, and your old knuckle to a shop and have them press-out old, then press-in new, bearings.