# Loud rumble while driving at highway speed **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** subaru\ **Created:** [January 26, 2019, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-rumble-while-driving-at-highway-speed/133348 "2019-01-26T05:18:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bluegill](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bluegill/32/2813_2.png) [@Bluegill](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bluegill)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-rumble-while-driving-at-highway-speed/133348/1 "2019-01-26T05:18:20Z")
Hi folks! I’ve got a noise that’s driving me crazy that I can’t diagnose. 2006 Subaru Outback, 2.5 naturally aspirated, manual transmission with 220,000 miles. At about 45 mph and higher, a loud sound that sounds like road noise begins. A constant rumble, not a howl or ticking sound. - It gets louder with the car’s speed (not engine rpms). - The frequency increases slightly with speed, but it doesn’t seem like a 1:1 scaling of speed to frequency. - Sounds like it’s coming from below the driver’s seat, but it’s hard to locate. - The noise goes away if I turn the steering wheel to the right, like on a highway exit. - Noise continues if I shift into neutral. What I’ve done: - Replaced all 4 tires (they needed to be replaced anyway) - Replaced front driver’s side wheel bearing Anyone have any ideas? The only thing I can think is that I replaced the wrong wheel bearing… But it definitely sounded like it was coming from the driver’s side! Anyone have a yea or a nay before I spent another Sunday afternoon messing around with a slide hammer? The bearing assembly I removed appeared to be in good shape, and I think I the play I found on that wheel just means I also need new tie-rod ends. Is there anything else that would cause this sort of noise? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 12:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-rumble-while-driving-at-highway-speed/133348/2 "2019-01-26T12:35:22Z")
> [@Bluegill](#): > > Anyone have any ideas? The only thing I can think is that I replaced the wrong wheel bearing… But it definitely sounded like it was coming from the driver’s side! Quite possible that L/F bearing could have been in need of replacement and it’s possible there is/are another/others. AWD? I believe Subaru AWD systems have bearings supporting the driveshaft to the rear wheels. That’s another possibility… the support and/or bearing. _ **CSA** _ 🌴🕶🌴 ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-rumble-while-driving-at-highway-speed/133348/3 "2019-01-26T14:41:43Z")
> [@Bluegill](#): > > Replaced front driver’s side wheel bearing Yup, passenger side wheel bearing. They can be tricky little buggers to identify. I once replaced a drivers side bearing when the passengers side was actually bad. With 200K on the clock, it isn’t a wasted exercise in any event. And as CSA says, there are bearings UNDER your car that could be going away. ---
**Author:** ![Bluegill](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bluegill/32/2813_2.png) [@Bluegill](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bluegill)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-rumble-while-driving-at-highway-speed/133348/4 "2019-01-26T15:24:58Z")
Thanks, guys! I hadn’t even thought to look around the driveshaft. This is my first AWD car and I haven’t quite wrapped my head around the drivetrain. So my current plan is to replace the front passenger’s wheel bearing and check for play or broken boots around the transmission/driveshaft. And yeah, I figure anything I replace on this car needed to be replaced anyway, so no big loss on the driver’s side bearing (except a Sunday).