layin-lo

So just finished replacing the clutch and transmission in my '03, now i get a droning, humming sound anywhere above 40 mph. Does it with clutch in or out, in gear or neutral, any speed 40 and up. very distracting.. ideas?

ezone

Sounds like an airplane flying beside you?
Wheeeeeeeel bearing?

Swerve side to side while driving at whatever speed the noise is loudest, does the intensity of the noise change as you swerve?

Raise the front wheels in the air and have someone put it in gear and run it up to the speed it makes noise at. Use a stethoscope to locate the noise.

If no noise in the air, it might be choppy tire tread.

mikey1

most likely a bad front wheel bearing....watch this video....

USE EXTREME CAUTION IF YOU DO THIS!

layin-lo

Man, so glad you put that up there.. had done everything I could to check the bearings, was convinced they were not the problem - check these out.. first one with the drivers side wheel off the ground and passenger side chocked, second one vice-versa with passenger side in the air. Strange I never noticed this before doing the clutch and tranny, either I tweaked something in the process or maybe just the old input shaft bearing noise was drowning out the bearing sound.

DC354

Try new tires before you do wheel bearings. Might not need them at all.

ezone

A tire can't make noise when it is in the air, but a bad wheel bearing sure can.

layin-lo

Update - So took both steering knuckles off, and dropped them at Honda for new OEM bearings to get pressed in (totaled about 250.00 each with them providing the parts..) Slapped 'em back on and took it in for alignment, the shop said it almost didn't need to be done the readings were so close! Guess everything new and tight pulls it all right in there where it needs to be just about. Anyway, after about a week of hard driving, it's all good. Might never have suspected those bearings..

mikey1

great to hear!