I have searched but have not found an answer, particularly on a car so relatively new, so I am posting for the experts to weigh in. I bought my 06 a year and a half ago with about 30k on the clock. It has about 41 or 42k now. When taking a sharp right hander at speed (20-30 mph), I would hear a slight grinding noise and a vibration related to the noise could be felt through the steering wheel. I hear a similar noise and feel a similar vibration the first time I exceed 10 mph or so each morning when leaving my neighborhood so I assumed it to be normal. The noise remained unchanged until approximately a week ago when it began to be triggered by less aggressive right hand turns. It is not triggered by a gentle right hand turn at speed or any turn at low speed. Today, the noise/sensation seemed to pulse at the normal right hander that triggers it with the front wheel feeling as though it was momentarily locking up. My VSA also triggered, which may have been the cause of the pulsation. There is no other odd noise from the car and when driving straight, the car behaves normally. There is not a constant squeak or groan.

I now feel stupid for letting it go for a year as I initially researched and believed it to be driver's side motor mount, but now believe it to be front driver's side bearing and hub. If true, it is likely that the hub and bearing are beyond shot at this point. I will not have time to jack it up and shake the wheel about until this weekend. Does everyone agree that it is likely hub/bearing? thanks in advance.

 

Forgot to say so in original post but I cannot discern any huge difference between the front right and front left wheels. Was also suggested that a sticking brake caliper might be a culprit.

 

Jack the car up (which ever is the suspected wheel). And grab the wheel 180 degrees appart and see if there's any play ( for rear wheel make sure the e brake is not on when you do this). If it shakes change your hub and bearing because most likely your hub is also worn unevenly that when you replace it with a new bearing the same problem will happened again.

 

I am doing this today. Will report back.

 

Jacked front end up and jerked each wheel about. No excessive play. Also did not notice any odd rotational noises. Both seemed to rotate freely. What is next? Motor mounts?

 

shouldnt have play at all. when i had a wheel bearing problem the play was about half an inch but it was noisy as hell when the car is down and rolling