I have a 2000 Accord 4 door with the v6. I recently replaced the tires and around the same time noticed a loud howling sound while gettng up to speed and while on the highway. I first thought the tires I bought were just noisy but turns out they are exceptionally quiet tires according to the reviews....

So, my thoughts are that myabe the hub bearings are going bad?? Does that sound like a ligitimate cause? The car has 127Kmiles on it. It received all the appropriate maint. at 100K (timing chain, water pump, hoses, belts, plugs, etc.) I also recently did a full brake job with new rotors all the way around. I have changed hub bearings on a couple trucks I had and it was a miserable job. Anyone ever done it on this car?? What will the parts cost me? How hard of a job is it to do? Thanks in advance for all replies. Mark

 

As you are driving at highway speed lightly steer left/right to see if the noise changes pitch.
That is a good sign of a bad wheel bearing.
Rear bearings come as a hub unit and are a gravy job to change out.
Front bearings require the axle to be dropped out and a hubpuller tool for removing the bearing.

 

great information, thank you!! I will check that on the highway today on my way home... as long as the streets are clean and dry!
The sound does seem to sound like it is coming from the rear of the car......

 

When rear wheel bearings started making noise in my 98 Accord, it didnt change much with steering arounda corner. So if it does NOT change with steering, it doesnt really rule out a wheel bearing.

 

Well, I did what hondadude suggested and I didnt notice so much a change in pitch, but I could tell it (the noise) kind of cut in and out a little bit.
Not terribly obvious, but it was noticeable. Do you think this is evidence enough that I should probably just go ahead and change the rear hub bearings? sounds like it is a fairly uncomplicated job... what will the parts cost me? roughly.... Thanks!

 

$80-90 per hub unit; majestic hondaprices.
First remove the caliper, hang it out of the way. Then the caliper bracket.
The are 2 phillips screws for the rotor, hand impact is a good tool for that job.
pop off the center cap and remove the 32mm nut;
Yank the hub unit off.

 

When I worked at Honda Dealer they would put the car on the hoist then put it in gear and take a long screwdriver or pry bar and put the tip to the area around the bearing and the end to their ear to determine which bearing is bad.

 

Thanks hondadude!
hey, how tight do you torque the nut back on to??

 

The big nut is 181 ft. lb.