"Curly" sound emenating from right rear wheel

[MDMaz3]

I can't figure it out but as I'm driving I can hear a high pitched "Woob, Woob, Woob", maybe a little lower than Curly of the 3 Stooges, but of course pitch increases with speed. I've jacked up the rear and tested to see if there was any side to side movement as well as up and down and it's pretty solid. I spun the wheel and could hear the sound again. I took the wheel off and spun the housing but no sound....maybe I can't replicate it without the wheel on. It can't be the tire as the sound is more mechanical or metal oriented than rubber would be. Any guesses before I shop it ?

[peterm15]

Brakes?
Bearings?

[silverstarmazda]

sounds like it could be the bearing. reason why it didnt make the noise with the wheel off is because there isnt much weight pressing on the bearing to make a noticeable noise. could be something else, hard to say without actually hearing it

(nice roof in your sig btw :chuckle)

[Flagrum_3]

Brakes?
Bearings?

^Most likely this.



_3

[peterm15]

The only reason I suggested brakes was its a higher pitch sound (the description) then I'm used to hearing with bearings.

But bearings is where my money would go in a bet.

[bubba1983]

Jerk the wheel from side to side when your driving down the road, and report back with how it sounds and which way you jerk the wheel when the noise is made....

[MDMaz3]

sounds like it could be the bearing. reason why it didnt make the noise with the wheel off is because there isnt much weight pressing on the bearing to make a noticeable noise. could be something else, hard to say without actually hearing it

(nice roof in your sig btw :chuckle) I've tried fixing the sig but without luck. Will try again. Whats involved to take the bearing off? Am I better of taking it to the shop. Saturday is supposed to be a bit warmer so I hear. I'm not afraid to try, have a lot of the basic tools and neighbor is a retired mech.

[MDMaz3]

Jerk the wheel from side to side when your driving down the road, and report back with how it sounds and which way you jerk the wheel when the noise is made.... I usually have to do this driving down the street as I pass mounds of snow piles and haven't noticed any change. I'll do that tomorrow and let you know if there is a change in the sound.

[MDMaz3]

http://www.mazda3forums.com/showthread.php?t=379738 I just found a nice video on how to take it all apart. To me it makes sense it's the bearing, but funny thing is in the video he mentions a crunching sound and not a woob woob sound. If I can't figure it out by taking apart shortly, or if weather doesn't cooperate, I'll definite shop it.

[MDMaz3]

Jerk the wheel from side to side when your driving down the road, and report back with how it sounds and which way you jerk the wheel when the noise is made....

I just tried it tonight. The sound is constant. So will assume weve eliminated front wheel bearing....so must be rear then....glad my hearings not going yet :)