Kobo the hobo

While I'm driving my 01 civic, the front passenger wheel will make a rumbling noise and i can feel it in the steering wheel. It happens on occasion and the length of rumbling differs, no longer then 3 seconds. most of the time it's only like 3 quick rumbles (I can tell) but has been lasting longer lately. I doubt it's the brakes, had my car at Les Schwab like 2 weeks ago to check up on the brakes and they said it's fine.

I've jacked the car up and looked at the wheel and it doesn't wiggle.
Any ideas on what might be going on?

Also, I had my timing belt, fan belt, and fuses replaced about 2 months ago and my fan belt is screeching. Tried tightening it but that didn't do anything, should I replace it?

Prodresurgence

Fan belt? If you think there's a fan belt in a car made anytime after 2000 you shouldn't be tightening belts at all. Maybe you should tighten your power steering and a/c belts and see if that helps.

Edit://You know what that was mean... Just try replaceing the belts, they're really cheap, make sure you tighten them properly and you'll be fine. Before that try some belt dressing, they may just need some silicone in the cold weather. Check each pulleys ridges for damage while you have the belts off its possible they use a chain wrench on the crankshaft pulley to hold it while they wrenched it off to change the T belt.

Kennykid2002

iTrader: (1)

Balance might be off, or lugnut might be loose

I would take off the wheel entirely, then put it back on, remember to do tighten it star pattern.
See if the problem persists, if it does, its most likely balance

Mad Dog Tannen

Does it have stick on wheel weights? They could have knocked some off while doing the brake job!

Does it happen while cruising, accelerating or braking?

Happy Jack

I say it sounds like a wheel bearing.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

retighten lug nuts, they do get loose over time. i think its 80-90 ft/lbs.

lazlong

Bingo! Like the earlier post, first try taking the wheel off and put it back on. Torque: 80 ft-lbs

Make sure there is 1/8 inch deflection on the belts. Deflection: how far the belt moves up and down while running.

MindBomber

Adding to what everyone else has said, when you re-tighten the lug nuts if you don't have a torque wrench or impact wrench then you will probably need to use a cheater pipe to get enough torque on the nuts.

When you had your brakes done did they touch the rotors, a warped rotor would cause vibrations as well.

Kobo the hobo

Well they did a brake job last spring, and messed up terribly, the brakes were locking up so over the summer they re-did the whole thing. Rotors were warped but they replaced them. I'll try taking the wheel off and putting it back on.

And it happens while cruising.

So my car doesn't have a fan belt? Well it only screeches when the AC or defroster are on if that helps. (apologies for asking about this on the tires and wheels thread.)

Kobo the hobo

well correction, it's the a/c belt, thanks Prodresurgence. I did tighten it up though.

MindBomber

Don't worry about it, its all part of the same series of problems. If it goes to far towards off topic, we simply move it to the appropriate area.

Mad Dog Tannen

If it makes the sound louder when going around a corner then it is the wheel bearing for sure. It usually happens when turning one way.

I am almost sure it is the wheel bearing!

Kobo the hobo

do you mean like during an actual turn? It's never rumbled while turning, it's usually when i'm cruising and the car is slightly moving to the left. but on the straight aways

lazlong

Still think it's the wheel bearing.

Kennykid2002

iTrader: (1)

Like I said, remove the wheel and reinstall it first

Mad Dog Tannen

It usually happens that way but not always. Sense it's a grinding sound, then it's probably the bearing.

Also check and make sure the CV boots aren't torn while you have the wheel off!

Kobo the hobo

all right. I'll try fixing it tomorrow.

Kobo the hobo

Turns out it's not the bearings, most likely the upper CV joints.

lazlong

Upper? It's either inner or outer.

the_civy

sounds like your tire is separated.

shaking in the steering wheel and veering to the opposite side (ex: your passenger tire is the problem and youre pulling to the driver side) are usually signs of a separated tire.

Feel around the tire for a "bubble" or take it to a tire shop and they can check.

04 Honda Civic

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like a wheel bearing or axel hard to tell, our cars dont have fan belts. They are electronic.