Diagnosing a loud road noise.

Accord EX-L 1999 130000km. I have noticed much more road noise lately.
Like bad bad winters tires with studs and it is louder as speed increases.
It worsens when turning to right. The car also pulls slightly to the
left, but just a bit. Could this be a wheel bearing? If it is bad, is it
supposed to have some play on the hub? Easy to change? Would I need
special tool? Other idea?

 

Yeah, I would guess from your description of the sound it is a wheel
bearing. I had a car with a bad front right bearing, it sounded like a
propeller most of the time, except when I was on right handers. I wasn't
able to feel play in the hub (on the front) and it wasn't easy to feel drag
because it was (also) FWD.

I don't know details of your car, but I'm guessing in the front it's a lot
like my 91 - replacing the wheel bearings involves a slide hammer to get
the hub/rotor assy off, and then some additional stuff to press the bearing
out (do you have to put the spindle in an arbor press?)

However, I don't think it would be too much at a shop, and definitely not
in the class of stuff you must leave to the dealer.

-Arthur

P.S. AFIK if it is the bearing, and if it is also the cause of the pull to
the left, then failure is imminent, since that much drag should the melt
the bearing. I'm guessing that the pull is more likely alignment or
something else unrelated.