Hello
Sure could use some help. Seems my 01 LS430 has developed a thumping sound at like 20 mph..it is very loud inside the car. As you go faster to 40 mph it is thumping faster but not as loud. Slow down and comes right back.

So I flipped the wheel from front to back on passenger side. Seemed to get quieter but now louder than ever so obviously not the wheel.

Could it be the wheel bearing? If so how much is the part and labor time? Dont think I could do myself but curious what is involved.

Thanks Kevin

 

If it is a lower pitched "thump", it's usually a bad tire or wheel bearing. If it is a somewhat higher pitched "scrape", it's usually a brake issue. That's according to my limited experience having had all of those on the fine GM and Dodge vehicles I've owned in the past.

 

May also want to look under the car in that corner for any obvious signs of worn suspension parts.
Miles on car?
Any suspension components replaced?
How is the tire wear?

 

I assume its not some debris caught under the car as you likely would have seen it when moving the wheel/tire to other side. Could be something broken or loose and about to break on that side - suspension part, brakes, wheel hub/bearing - just in case its something serious, I'd stop driving it until I got a pro to diagnose.

If its a bad hub/wheel bearing, some have ordered the new hub at a significant discount online and then paid a 3rd party shop to do the labor. It is a relatively simple job but may be too much for average person unless they are used to working on cars. Do a search you should find a pretty good pictorial on a wheel hub replacement.

 

Do you just hear a thumb, or there's physical vibration through the car through steering wheel? I've found that bad bearing will result in vibration through the column.

I had run over a patch of recently laid black top, and a patch of the tar/filler material had gotten stuck onto the tire and it was creating this subtle thumping and vibration that came through the steering wheel. I first though it somethig more, but upon looking closer, I saw it was debris on tires. So, I cleared it and all was fine. Make sure there is nothing on tire first.

 

I had a similar problem, turned out lug nuts were loose, double check to make sure they're tight.