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My 1999 Honda Accord LX 2.3 4DR is making a sound like the old days bearings did.
I have a great mechanic who even took it to another mechanic. Neither could say which was bad: the $4,000 transmission or the $700 wheel bearings.
How can I test it myself?
Normally a wheel bearing hum or rumble will change in intensity depending on whether the bearing is loaded or unloaded...this can be tested at slower speeds (on a clear road) by weaving from side to side to load the bearing races. If its a manual transmission then the hum/whine of worn mainshaft bearings will increase/decrease slightly depending on engine gearbox load (on/off throttle, ) diff bearings are more easy to detect1 as bearing whine just increases in frequency as speed does, no matter what gear.
If its an auto transmission then failing differential bearing sounds would be detectable the same way as above, although other shaft bearings may be harder to detect, its likely that a main dealer tech may have more experience in detecting the signs of transmission bearing failure as they're more likely to have heard/repaired them before, and will also know of any product recalls relating to bearing failure etc.
You can test by driving on the road around 30-40 mph and making some swerves left and right. Listen to the sound. If the sound increases swerving to the right, then the left bearing is bad. If it gets louder going to the left, then the right bearing is bad. This is because the weight is being transferred to those wheels while swerving. Now to figure if it's front or rear is a little more difficult, but u could try some straight line braking and listen if it gets louder (front) if no change then probably rear.
Empty roads only please, don't cause an accident.
If you can put it on a rolling road then you can use a "listening stick" (a long rod, screwdriver etc) or stethoscope to locate the noisy bearing with the engine wheels turning...
Above all no loose clothing scarves etc.. Safety first!
You can also find a bad wheel bearing by checking the temperature of the hub. If you find a hub that is hot or significantly warmer than the others after about 10 minutes of driving, then it may be a bad bearing.
