What Opeunurmind said:
“As someone who makes a living at this, park that car immediately and have someone who does know what to look for come JACK IT UP and diagnose it before you drive it anymore. What you described can be a very serious issue that could cause an accident at any time. No joke...
By your description my first suspicions would be loose wheel lugnuts. If so the wheel could fall off at any moment while driving it. This needs an immediate inspection before you operate it anymore.”
I don’t make a living working on cars, but I’ve had to work on my own for economic and other necessary reasons. I’d vote for a CV joint issue or wheel bearings, except for the rubbing noise. That could be bearings, but it could also be loose lug nuts. Had a buddy whose SUV was making that kind of noise after having new tires put on. Tire shop said it was all fine, so he asked me to look at it. Yep, lug nuts loose on all 4 wheels. Get it checked out right away, please.
This actually just happened to my daughter who lives in another town. She bought a good used car, within a few days she started to have the same noise and symptoms. I had my Son in law get off his butt and go jack it up. Lugnuts loose and it had already ruined the wheel. They called the used car dealer about it. Apparently they had just swapped wheels and tires from another rig onto this one. The incompetent tech forgot to tighten one of them.
And even if you have not had the wheels worked on recently, someone could have loosened them, or if they were not properly tightened even a year ago they can still loosen over time. And they will come loose faster on the left side than on the right side.
I sure will, Cincinnatus. Thank you so very much.
Yes, if anyone has had the wheels off for any reason recently, lug nuts (or bolts) are the first thing to check.
I’ve had this happen twice, both times a day or two after a “mechanic” had the wheels off.
I was behind a Mustang once that lost a front wheel. It flew up in the air and landed about 10 feet off to my left, then went bouncing down the road.
I ALWAYS check after anyone has the wheels off, at the same time I torque the nuts to the factory spec. Very often they are over tightened which can cause problems too.