Recently I hit a curb in the snow going about 5-10 mph all the contact went to the left tire and now it makes a loud noise when accelerating or cruising. The noise is louder when going faster but doesn't really make the noise when going 70. The car drives straight, the alignment is off a little now. The noise sounds like a loud vibrating "whoomp whoomp whoomp". I feel minimal vibrations in the steering wheel but can feel it throughout the car. When I switch lanes to the left the noise stops due to the pressure on the tire but the noise continues when I straighten out and when i change lanes to the right the noise stays constant. The noise continues when in neutral and rolling. I have taken the car to a tire shop and they said my front bearings are out and need replaced and the car needs realigned, they also recommend that I go to a transmission shop because the noise I am taking about is coming from the transmission. Another shop said there is something wrong with the transmission and bearings, but may possibly be a control arm. Two people that I described the noise thought it may be a control arm. Anyone have any ideas what it may be? If I end up needing to put a different transmission in it, what are some options for the 2.4L 99' cavalier? I have seen 6 speed swaps on some forums and I wouldn't mind putting a different transmission in it if the install doesn't require a lot of fabrication and complication. I am trying to keep the repair cost down but do what is best for the car and its future performance. Thanks for your feedback.
You may have just messed the wheel bearing up. I woul suggest replacing it first, if the noise still persist take buy a tranny shop and have it looked it, you may have damaged the internals of the tranny (unlikely but possible).
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Hit 200 NA it broke once, Hit 213 it broke again,
Hitting 300 NA is further away than I thought.
yup......wheel bearing!!!!
control arms can't make noise when just coasting.... maby on a bump or something, but a "whooshing" is a bearing
If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence you tried!
Thank you so much for your feedback. I will try replacing the wheel bearings, hopefully the noise will go away. If anyone else has any ideas what it may be feel free to post. Thanks!
I was listening to my car today when I was driving it and I only hear one noise. I don't understand why the shops are saying its the wheel bearings and transmission. When I got home I let the car idle and heard a pinging noise, that sounded like metal hitting metal which may be the transmission... It seemed to be coming from the area where the transmission is but I didn't crawl under my car to listen closer. Hopefully that will help diagnose my problem... Also if anyone has plans/blueprints to the front end of my car so I can locate all of the components of my car to furthur get an idea of the problem when I jack it up, they would be appreciated.
