Years ago they decided to separate GENERATIONS by other criteria. Others have mentioned but its gone so long its not easy to reshuffle. So I always try to ask for model year. And when searching helpful repair threads I have to search 8th and 9th for my 2010 because some put it where it belongs and some put it in the other. You'll have similar troubles. It's hard sometimes to know wassup so if model year isn't mentioned then I move on.

More here:

https://www.impalaforums.com/threads/2009-chevy-impala-3500v6-slightly-rough-idle.1892250/#post-3741634

 

It's hard to determine what kind of noise you are hearing, and what the dealer and mechanic mean by ball bearings making the noise. Where are the ball bearings they're referring to located in the car? If it sounds like a rock rattling in a tin can, that would possibly be a broken catalyst element in a catalytic converter. It also would make kind of a whirring noise under hard acceleration.

 

It's the hardest thing to explain but everyone hears and feels it when in the car and especially when driving it. It gets loud when you accelerate.

 

This is an easy one .. one time my 2012 impala ltz was doing the same thing. I had just bought it. it was immaculate and fully serviced looking totally brand new . After a month or so when i accelerated hard following the acceleration was a tat tat tat knock knock sound.. i was freaking out. Then after topping the oil myself. It went away the oil was bone dry. These cars burn through oil fast…

 

The mechanic is most likely referring to the wheel hub bearings. It is common for these to go bad these days as automakers seem to use cheaper made bearings. It is not just a Chevy issue. When they go bad they will make a roaring noise that will increase and decrease with vehicle speed. They are not horribly hard to change, but you will need some mechanical experience and a decent set of tools change them.

 

I kind of expected follow-up on this by now. Some people hear a noise and call it a rattle and others hear the same noise and call it a hum. And lots depends on where it's coming from, and if it changes intensity according to vehicle speed. Or if gets louder when hot. Or cold lol.

If it's low engine oil I would expect that sensor to report. But I realize it doesn't always. Or so some say.

If it's wheel bearings then it's probably just one wheel and what corner its coming from should be discernable. Especially when the windows are down.

It might be a brake or parking brake grinding. Not sure how a bearing would be the cause but shops will be shops.

If it's none of those things then more information (and clear idea of your observations) is needed!

 

The dealer said it has nothing to do with the wheels.
I was dealing with a family issue at the same time so I was distracted.
When I go back in for an oil change, I'll talk to them again about thr issue.
They said it's a massive job, many thousands. He even said it would not be worth repairing if the steering g got really bad and needed replacing. He said if know when the bearings got really bad because the car would have a lot of play in the steering.
This was the dealer mechanic stating that it's a known issue on the Impala model, not other models.

 

I'm anxious to know what ball bearings cause the noises you described, gets louder under acceleration, and results in loose steering. This sounds like something we need to be aware of in order to help folks in the future. Thanks for offering to ask them for clarity when you go back for the oil change.

There are support bearings in rack-and-pinion steering arrangements that could loosen steering but they don't change as rpm changes. The only steering bearings that might change with rpm are in the steering pump turned by the serpentine belt. The pump can be replaced. And the 'gearing' that is the 'rack' and the 'pinion' can wear from lack of lube and/or alignment with each other and that assembly is changed as a complete assembly costing about $3,500, but it doesn't make noise that changes with rpm.

This one is a real head scratcher!

Thanks again.

Ref your first post:
"Anyway, my Impala has been making a whirling/grinding noise that gets louder under acceleration."

 

Elec. ps?

 

We have a 2015 Impala, and the power steering is most certainly electric. -no pump, no drive belt, no fluid, etc.
I thought that all Impalas from 2014 and newer use the electric system.

 

Mine's 2010. Learn something new every day! So that takes the pump out of this mix (which it really was already anyway). Still hoping to hear more from @Guitarguy14

 

I am not sure what is causing the noise but it increases with acceleration, meaning the noise goes hand in hand with the speed of the car. My mechanic said something about bearings but the handling is still tight, so no need to replace. He said, right now it's just the noise, but it is annoying.
When it makes the handling feel loose, we'll need to replace. The noise is annoying. The mechanic made it sound as if it was common.

I was thinking of getting a 2020 Impala when I end up moving on from this one, but now I not so sure.

 

Okay except if a mechanic said it's a bearing then you should replace it before it fails and strands you. Bad bearings fall apart very fast. And they introduce debris into the system.

The steering bearings do not change rpm with vehicle speed, they move with steering wheel input. So you are paying attention to the wrong thing.

If it's actually a wheel or hub bearing then it's most often just one side of the car. You must know where it's coming from. You said it's loud.

If you wait for a wheel or hub bearing to fail THEN THAT FAILURE WHEN DRIVING might introduce momentum damage into the steering system. Then it will cost thousands.

I'm surprised you have not fixed it already because a bearing that gets louder with motor rpm would probably have completely failed by now (first post 11/16).

 

I agree Griz.
When I see them again shortly, I will bring this up. I wish I knew specifically rhe issue. I could also do another dealer appointment.
So what do you think is causing the noise? All I know is that the noise changes with the acceleration.
When I first heard the noise, I thought it was a worn tire since that is essentially how it sounded.
Both places I took it too said there is nothing they can do about it at this time, so I wasn't sure what to do. I'll try again.
Thank you for the input.

 

I'm not there so cannot know. You are our eyes and ears. Plus it's odd and unusual that neither shop gave you a repair quote.

The things that rotate faster with engine rpm and all in the drive train, to include the axles hubs wheels.

Maybe it's a motor or transmission bearing, or an alternator bearing except that's an easy fix.

But the most common bearing troubles on most vehicles are the wheel bearings. Easy swap, even if hubs are needed.

It would have been simple for either shop to tell you what needs fixing and hand you a quote.

Instead you're on the path toward a complete breakdown that will cost thousands. It doesn't make sense. I realize you have other obligations. Maybe take it to a better local repair shop and get a quote and have them fix it.

I for one would like to know what's up!

 

It definitely gets louder and stronger as I press on the gas pedal and accelerate.
Hard to explain. The sound gets faster as the car moves and I hit the gas. It almost sounds like scraping.

 

Does it make the exact same noise when in park and gently revving motor?

Ditto when in neutral?

Hoping to differentiate between engine noises versus non-engine.

You could have someone hold your phone (or support your phone on a cardboard box at the curb) and get video driving by it while mildly accelerating then turn around and drive by it again with the opposite side of the car facing the phone.

Sounds are really hard to put word to.

 

Griz,

No, the car must be in motion, rolling. It gets louder and faster with acceleration but the car must be moving. I'm siting in it right now in my garage and it's quiet.
I'll try neutral today.
I know I am not doing a great job explaining. It's going for an oil change soon and I'll ask them again.
It's really getting annoyng. I now hear a clicking in the noise. That is new.

I just tried neutral and the noise is there in neutral since the car is moving
So if I am am driving and coast, shift it to neutral, it is still audible but doesn't change if I hit the gas pedal. Then if I shift back to drive, the noise gets louder and more intense if I accelerate.

-Rich

 

It's 99% certainly a wheel bearing and hub. Need to verify which. Get new replacement wheel-hub-screws too.

It's DIY do-able in the garage and there are year-specific youtube help videos so search your specific and you'll notice the model year range for the work.

Or a shop can do it. Not saying your oil change shop can do it. You know what I mean.

 

Griz, would acceleration make it worse, make the noise louder? Sounds like a scraping when I hit the gas.
I will mention this next shop visit.

The guy I talked to last shop visit said it's a huge job and exciting naive and said to not do it unless it's impacting the feel and handling.
Not saying that's right or a good Idea, but that's what he said.

 

From your posts over these two months it certainly sounds like acceleration is efficiently grinding it's way further into your wallet.

 

I'll see the mechanic next week.
It seems odd it would be something with wheel since tapping the gas pedal, makes the sound so loud and exaggerated

 

I'll see the mechanic next week.
It seems odd it would be something with wheel since tapping the gas pedal, makes the sound so loud and exaggerated

What's odd is this is totally different, the target is moving so I'm tapping out.

 

Well, here is my 2 cents. Hopefully, this helps:

 

It's not a whine or a growl.
If anything it's a grinding or rubbing noise that gets much word when you hit the gas. Best I can do is have them listen again.
Last time they said it's common on the Impala. No idea beyond that.
I know I'll never buy one again and makes me nervous about Chevy since they say it's a known problem with the bearings.

 

It's not a whine or a growl.
If anything it's a grinding or rubbing noise that gets much word when you hit the gas. Best I can do is have them listen again.
Last time they said it's common on the Impala. No idea beyond that.
I know I'll never buy one again and makes me nervous about Chevy since they say it's a known problem with the bearings.

It's not a whine or a growl.
If anything it's a grinding or rubbing noise that gets much word when you hit the gas. Best I can do is have them listen again.
Last time they said it's common on the Impala. No idea beyond that.
I know I'll never buy one again and makes me nervous about Chevy since they say it's a known problem with the bearings.

I just thought of this...MAYBE it's the interior brake pads are wearing out evenly. I remember many years on my '15 LTZ I had an issue kinda what you had, I couldn't figure out this odd grinding sound and just thought it was a small rock (like gravel) that was stuck between the pads and rotors. I checked all the rotors and brake pads for damage but nothing. The sound got worse and one day the front wheels seized. Well it ended up being there was damage on inside rotors. I never bothered to check the inside pads and rotors for any damage and unbeknownst to me the inside brake pads were wearing out because the old grease on the calipers slider pins caused them not to retract and the pads wore down to the metal. Check the inside of the rotors and pads for any damage and also check the pads for even wear. If you find any abnormal wear clean and re-grease the caliper pins. Possibly get new pads if it's really bad. Hope this info helps.

 

The one and only...
Thanks.

But so you think taut grinding would increase with acceleration or any time I hit the gas?

I have it in today so I'll ask again.

 

@Guitarguy14 Hi, so I’m experiencing the same exact thing right now with my 16 Impala. The sound is hard to describe but kinda sounds like a truck with big tires kinda. When i decrease speed you can here in wind down and almost sound like exhaust but i doubt it. Did you ever find out what the issue was? Thanks!

 

I’m buying one (cheap) that’s been making this noise for the last two years. It can’t be a wheel or hub bearing if it’s making this noise without failing over that time. The transmission fluid looked pretty worn and my best guess is an internal transmission bearing (3.5l FWD) because the sound isn’t directional either.