Why is my nissan versa making noise that sounds like a bad wheel bearing?

Wheel initally with start making a washing machine noise or grinding sound when doing sharp turns the opposite of the wheel side as the outer race will generally go bad first. You may also notice the rim heating up due to friction. Grinding at low speed or a growling sound would dictate an inspection.

Kia is bad with wheel bearings ;.About 80 to 100k they start going bad. You have to check them physically with a dial gauge or know how to inspect them in other manners. They cause a rumbling sound when they start to go bad.

98% sure you have an axle problem. Might be wheel bearings depending on the sound. Bad axles will make a loud clicking noise, (click click click in rapid succession, espically while turning or under accleration) while wheel bearings will make a growling sounds.

it can be brakes or a wheel bearing

This could be your wheel bearing,raise front end on bad tire side and grab tire and move it around to see if it is loose,http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?fromSearchPage=true&pageId=0900c15280265793&partName=Front+Wheel+Bearings&partId=0900c15280265793

Noises from axles can be really deceiving. The sound is transfered throuh the transaxle and can resonate through the entire vehicle. The turning to the left thing makes it sound like a problem in the right wheel/axle area. Wheel bearings and axles tend to make worse noise when they are on the OUTSIDE of the turn. More of the vehicle weight is shifted to the outside due to centrifugal force. Thus, if the noise is louder when turning left, this puts the right axle to the outside of the turn and the most likely to be the source of the noise. (and vise-versa) The fact that the noise calms down while cruising makes me believe that it is not a wheel bearing. Wheel bearings can make more noise in turns, however, they usually make a "roaring" or loud "humming" noise that gets louder with speed. An axle is more likely to change or get louder according to engine load more than rotational speed. (Way worse while accelerating or climbing a hill) I would be taking a hard look at the right axle.

From your description it certainly sounds like a bearing but since you've changed it I would look at the tire for any chopping or cupping as this will cause a noise that is speed related as well. To verify a wheel bearing as you drive the car carefully weave from one side of the lane to the other. A wheel bearing will change pitch as you change the load on it and usually the bearing that is quiet to the left is the right bearing that is bad and vise versa.

Does sound stop when you turn LEFT?

Turning RIGHT puts the heavy load on the LEFT front wheel.
That initially STOPPED the noise, correct? So why did you change L?

Turning LEFT puts the load on the RIGHT. Did you change the RIGHT?

Let's say this:
If turning RIGHT stops the noise, it's the RIGHT one that's likely bad.
If turning LEFT stops the noise, it's the LEFT one that's more likely bad.

Make sense? Turning RIGHT loads the LEFT wheel; and vice-versa as the WEIGHT SHIFTS AWAY FROM THE TURN.

More than likely it is what some folks call a CV joint problem, not wheel bearings. Try backing up and then going forward to see if "clunking sound" or a sharp "bang" is heard. Wheel bearings and CV joints only work if smooth. Sometimes a BEARING RACE is bad. Also, a bad spindle / part of the CV joint / transaxle assembly worn or badly machined. If in a WET ENVIRONMENT especially, u may want to try marine grade grease or teflon-added grease.




Does sound come from POWER STEERING PUMP area?

probably have another bad wheel bearing on the other side,,,,gm is bad with wheel bearing,,if you turn left and it gets louder that means your loading the right bearing so the right one would be bad,,,and vise versa for the other direction,,,,

well did the noise start after the tires were rotated?could be choppy tires,,,if not ,i strongly think it sounds like a bad wheel bearing,,,,if you drive and while its making the noise turn left and right quick and see if the noise gets louder and which way turning makes it louder,,if you turn leftand it gets louder its usually the right wheels bearing as you are putting load on it, if it makes the noise louder while turning right its the left wheel bearing,,,got it