HALP! 2010 CTS-V “road noise.”

Late last year, I washed the V at a brand new car-wash in town. As the prep-guy was waving me up, it seemed like the driver-front wheel was way further right than it should be. I did the little "point left/point right - ???" and he kept nodding his head and waving me forward.

Then...CLUNK...the inside of the front driver tire whacks against the little triangle that leads to the "rails." I did a WTF!? motion, and dude got no tip, but the car slid in, got washed, and I was on my way.

When I got on the highway, I noticed a "hum" that wasn't there before. Briefly considered driving back to the carwash but I'd just picked up the kids from ballet and just wanted to get home.

The hum persisted, more pronounced in right hand turns at speed. 
 

I took the car into the local dealership for an oil change, told them what happened, asked them to check it out.

They said the REAR tires appeared "cupped." "Put new tires on and come back for an alignment." Cool.

When I got home, I cranked the wheel hard left, and sure enough, the inside of the front driver tire was showing cord. 

Per GRM'ers suggestion...though 3/4 of the Michelin Pilot Sport AS3's still had plenty of life left, I ordered a set of Ohtsus. 

Had the tires mounted hoping that would "fix it." No dice. Same noise. On the way to the dealership to set up an alignment appointment, I got a CEL (different story - different thread.)

Had the car repaired by LSXperts (bad lifter.)

THEN had the car aligned at the dealer. They've done a KILLER job in the past, but leaving the dealership, it was obvious the noise was still there, again, more pronounced it right hand turns.

The car also felt "bouncier" than normal, as confirmed by wife and kids. I'd planned on taking it back immediately...then COVID happened. 
 

So I've just been living with it with the limited driving I'm doing, but it really is pretty bad, and while the car was tracking straight after the alignment, it's pulling right now, and the "bounciness" feels like the car is stuck in "sport mode."

What say you, GRM? Take it back to the stealership? Any thoughts on what to look for? Blown strut(s) perhaps?

My guess would be a wheel bearing. Jack the car up and grab the spring and spin the wheel, see if one side feels rougher than the other.

With the wheel up in the air grab it at 12 and 6 and wiggle it hard, see if you feel any play.   Do the same with grabbing at 3 and 9.   If play in all directions it is a bearing.  If only top/bottom it is a ball joint.  If side to side then steering related. While in the air is a good time to check if the strut is leaking or for a bent tie rod

LF wheel bearing, which is more heavily loaded in right hand curves.

Don't remember which generation you have, but the more recent Alpha platforms (Ats, Cts) are notorious for eating tires like this..

Wheel bearing. Keep an ear out for occasional squeaks and pops. That's when things really start going south. 

Thanks dudes! I'd considered wheel bearing but the "hum" seems pretty constant(?) and also no squeal that I'd typically associate with a bad wheel bearing. Also, regarding the "bouncing???"

In reply to poopshovel again :

Does that have magnetic ride control? Check and make sure some knuckle head didn't unplug something important when doing the alignment.

I'm not saying they would do that to generate another service stop, but they might. I have come in behind some companies that do that kind of thing. 

In reply to Toyman01 (Forum Supporter) :

It does. And wow...that had not occurred to me.

I also vote wheel bearing. And your strut is probably done. Good friend of mine had a Gen 2 V that he sold early this year and had the same strut go bad on his.

poopshovel again said:

Thanks dudes! I'd considered wheel bearing but the "hum" seems pretty constant(?) and also no squeal that I'd typically associate with a bad wheel bearing. Also, regarding the "bouncing???"

Unit bearings like the ones you have sound like you put mud tires on when they start to fail.  It's more of a groan.

If you're talking about fast bouncing, like a rattle, it could be a really bad bearing or a suspension bushing.  If you're talking about up/down suspension oscillation, maybe blew a shock?  We need a better description of "bouncing."

But tapping a guide rail pulling into a service station did nothing... or if it did, you have way more problems than you thought and whatever was wrong was going to fail on the way home anyway.  It takes a hardcore hit to damage something.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Yeah, 100% "Riding on mudders" sound.

And by "bouncing," I mean "bouncing," like an over-sprung/under-dampened thing. Perhaps the two are unrelated.

poopshovel again said:

Thanks dudes! I'd considered wheel bearing but the "hum" seems pretty constant(?) and also no squeal that I'd typically associate with a bad wheel bearing. Also, regarding the "bouncing???"

I'm at 172k on my '2010 V' and waiting to start hearing this, but  my mess is all the bushings in the IRS are on their way out..........

'bouncing' ..........little or no bearings

My Silverado has what we called "your Moms station wagon tires" on it and and all of a sudden it sounds like I have Gumbo Monster Mudders on it.  
 

Wheel bearing.

pSHOVEL wAKE uP WHAT IS THE verdict on this ?!?!?!????

In reply to 759NRNG (Forum Partidario) :

Nothin yet as my driveway is currently mud, and I haven't even driven the car in like a week, but I'll let you know! I'm rolling with the bad wheel bearing theory for sure. 

Wheel bearing. Thanks dudes!!!!

A little bummed the Stealership didn't catch this months ago. Especially when I pointed them to the exact corner that was having issues/told them "It sounds like I'm driving on mudders." They've generally been really awesome.

Tire shop nailed it in 20 mins.

Yay.

How many samolians did this set yu back .....and the dealer did the repair or was it you?

In reply to 759NRNG (Forum Partidario) :

Shop is doing the repairs. I'll let you know when I get the breakdown. They're doing front pads and rotors too.

I feel your pain. I had the same thing with a sienna van. Only turning a certain way at a certain speed. Went around for a while until I got them to replace it.  New tires(needed them anyway) then alignment then bearing.