Front wheel/cv joint/bearing noise

2000 LeSabre: Several months ago, a "thumping" noise began in LF wheel area. Lug nuts were tight, brake pads OK, rotors OK. A couple of days ago a "whirring" noise appeared at same wheel (sounds like card in spokes of bicycle) and "thumping" is still there. Applying brakes, coasting in neutral, or turning sharply has no effect on noise. What should I look for?

from the sound of it it sounds like the CV joint is going out if you do the job yourself and you have the basic knowwing of the car and how it all comes apart its not too bad to change atleast on a 88' LeSabre anyways it should be the same setup also once one side goes out the other side wont spin either(atleast mine was that way) if you want a basic run threw of how to change them out email me at ReLoad1686@yahoo.com

I have the same BLASTED problem, had it into the dealer FOUR times for this thud sound on the LF wheel area, and they can't find it. I am a weekend mechanic, basically an egineering major with a passion for anything mechanical and I have tried everything under the sun. But here is what I know/think. if I sit in my driveway and jam the wheel left and right, the noise starts up with teh car parked and the engine running i'll hear the popping sound in the steering while im not moving. if I raise the vehicle up so the wheels are off the ground and do the same test of swinging the steering wheel back and forth, there is no sound. If I keep the vehicle raised but then load the suspension by lowering the car onto jack stands positioned under the control arms, the sound is still absent. As soon as the steering experiences the friction caused by the tires scraping the ground with the weight of the vehicle sitting on them. So i made a tool for myself which is a bar with a big compression spring on it, and I am going to attach this bar between maybe the inside of the wheel and one of the frame bolts to put a resistance on teh steering while the car is raised up, this resistance should simulate the friction of the tires. Then I am going to have someone turn the wheel and see if I can pinpoint the source of the noise. This idea is absolutely crazy and I def. don't advocate anyone trying this, but since I am a little bit nuts when it comes to car repairs, im gona give it a shot and if i find the problem I will post it.

Well, I posted this message several months ago and got no help from here or from any of the local "experts." I tried everything I could think of before a rather grungy looking dude standing beside me at the auto parts store said "Sounds like a wheel bearing to me." Out of desparation I replaced the wheel bearing unit and Voila'!! ..... my problem was solved. Thanks for the feedback and good luck!

Well, I posted this message several months ago and got no help from here or from any of the local "experts." I tried everything I could think of before a rather grungy looking dude standing beside me at the auto parts store said "Sounds like a wheel bearing to me." Out of desparation I replaced the wheel bearing unit and Voila'!! ..... my problem was solved. Thanks for the feedback and good luck!

Are we talking about the CV joint here when you say you replaced the wheel bearing unit? Are they the same thing?

Are we talking about the CV joint here when you say you replaced the wheel bearing unit? Are they the same thing?
No. It's not the CV joint. It's the wheel bearing which is more than just bearings and a race. It comes as a unit that contains both the inner and outer wheel bearings and attaches to the spindle.