Rear Noise

95 Coupe, 92000 miles.
Got a harmonic type noise at high speeds but not 65 - 70.  Opinion on whether I should tear into replacing u-joints and do wheel bearing while I'm at it.
I'm new at this so be kind!!!




|UPDATED|10/3/2011 5:02:25 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

could be a tire noise rita. you would have to check the ujoints and see if they were sloppy. a service manual can tell you how to check them. does the car clunk or make any hard noises when you put it in gear? from my experience a wheel bearing will have a high pitch noise if it going bad. maybe a good idea to have them repacked if they are not bad.

No wheel bearings per-se on these cars...it's a hub/bearing assembly. Not much you can do but replace them if there is a problem with them.
So...is this an actual noise you hear, or a vibration you feel? If it is a fine vibration that sorta comes/goes at speed, that points to a balance issue, prolly the driveshaft itself...may need u-joints. The halfshaft u-joints could also cause this to a lesser degree. Of course, a tire/wheel imbalance can do it, too, but that is usually a heavier feeling vibration.

Thanks for pointing this out; getting my tires checked this afternoon.

Not feeling a vibration.  Once I hit 75 or faster there is a "hum" (not high pitch, kinda baritone) that get louder the faster I go and softer to gone as I slow down.
I've not noticed any unusual wear on my tires, but will be getting those checked out.  Wonder if I should do an alignment? 

That kinda sounds like it may well be a bearing. Try this to see if we can narrow it down a little more...
While driving at the speed that you hear this hum, turn the steering wheel just a little to one side(left or right), and see if the noise changes at all. Do this to the left and right. It's best to do this one a road with little traffic.
IF you hear a pronounced difference in the noise, then yer looking at a wheel bearing issue. If you hear no difference at all, then I would think you have a tire noise...

Okay, Vette guys, here's an update:

Had my tires checked, rotated/balanced.  Couldn't hear the noise coming home but I'm going to take my Corvette out to the same road where I would hear the noise and run it up to the speed where I first noticed the noise.  Will let you know what I find.

Appreciate you all so much!!!

Hmmmm....reckon the noise could simply be road surface related?

I've had noise from the rear also.

and we all love helping out a damsel in distress. it is a common thing to do when you hear something strange, you have a tendency to think the worst possible scenario. i've been in my car and would hear a strange nois and wonder what was going on and it turned out to be the car next to or behind me.

it's a good idea to have the tires rotated/balanced periodically. when i bought my new tires got the lifetime rotation and balancing on them. every 5000 mi, both get done. i believe it ran me about 80 bucks for the policy. both get done each time.

as joel pointed out it also could be just road noise. try it on the road you were on and then on a road that you can do the same speed (safely) and check if there is any difference.