wheel bearing bad, which side?
 

I'm trying to diagnose a bad wheel bearing on my mothers Dodge Caravan.

It's definitely a speed related growling noise coming from the front end.
When driving and I turn to the RIGHT, the noise basically goes away.
When driving straight, or turning to the left, no change in the noise really.
Which side bearing is bad?

I want to say its the driver side based on the noise while driving in general, but I haven't been in the car as a passenger to listen to the noise coming maybe from that side actually. Years in the military attached to a feild artillery battalion has taken its toll on my hearing so I know I could be off on my perception as to where a noise is directly coming from.

Next step I guess will be to jack up each side and "shake"/move the wheel at 12 and 6 to check for play. But I was hoping someone could recommend based on the turning symptoms. I've checked online and Ive read people saying completely different things. I gave up looking.

driver, when you turn right weight is going off the driver bearing and more onto the passenger side. why it doesnt go away when you turn left

when you turn right, isn't weight transferred to the outside of the turn? putting more load on the driver side? same basically as the body rolling away from the turn?

Passenger. Turn to the right takes weight off passenger wheel.

blackbird is correct

Does it matter? You want to replace the bearings on both sides at the same time, right?

Eh, I've never done wheel bearings in pairs. The other can last quite some time or could have been replaced before. I agree with Brian.

im only fixing parts as needed. the van is starting to have major rust on the rockers. even with only 115k miles or so, its time is almost up. She drives local, maybe 100 miles a month with no highway driving. Im just trying to have it last through the winter and my mom will get a new car in the spring or summer.

I bet the bad one will have some play, although not always. Pull the wheels and check

Or you can spin it and carefully listen for horrid noises

jacked each one up at a time and spun... no horrid sounds. no questionable sounds either, just slight rubbing of brake pads. no noise difference between front wheels either. both spun same amount with trans in neutral.(fwd). Even checked rear wheels. no noises there. now what? go with just changing passenger side and keep my fingers crossed?

Did you try putting a pry bar under the tire while jacked up and checking for play?

no, I just grabbed at 12 and 6 and shook it looking for any play.
I guess I'll try that next time.

I may just go and replace the passenger side based on the turning symptoms. If I'm wrong, then I'll change the driver side too. Or have my mom trade it in as-is.

Sometimes they won't show play especially if the noise is at a higher speed. Run your hand across the tread for obvious cupping etc too.