i had a growling noise from a jetta once...it was the bearings.
spinning the wheel , unloaded, sounded great. but on the road it
roared. good luck

On Fri, 11 Aug 2006 14:52:08 -0500, wrote:

>i am hearing a growl from the left side of the rear end. i have
>smoothed the rear disks and pads. i don't think it is brakes. my tires
>are bad, and they do sing on pavement, but i hear a growling patterned
>sound from the rear end when going 30-35 mph. it isn't a constant
>noise, rather a patterned churn like a warped brake rotor. can a
>broken belt on a tire sound like that? there is a steady growl in a
>right turn. i am trying to figure out if it is a bearing, tires, or
>brake rotor. can a broken belt in a tire do that. it does quiet a
>little when i let off the gas, but it doesn't howl like a pinion
>bearing. i have original gatorbacks with 32000. is there a way i can
>tell if i have bad carrier bearing without taking it apart?