I'm dealing with an '02 Volvo S80 that's making a really loud whirring sound from the front pass wheel area that only gets louder the faster you go. After getting advice that it might be a bad wheel bearing I tested it by getting up to speed then steering left and right. The sound keeps up when steering left, when the weight of the car is full on the right wheels, but it stops when turning to the right, so I'm fairly sure it's the wheel bearing.

Although I'm sure I can swap it out I don't really have a lot of time right now, so I'm wondering...is this the type of malfunction that can cause a wheel to just fly off the car without warning?

Again, it's loud.

 

I had a wheel bearing go bad on a ranger and the whole wheel almost came off, it was only being held by the axle nut. Did you jack the car up and check for play in the wheel?

 

Thanks for the motivation 00. Haven't had a chance to get it off the ground yet but I'll be getting on it asap.

 

Wheel can lock up on at anytime also

 

Jack it up in a quiet location, spin the wheel and listen for any grinding. Pry on it and see if there is any play as well

It could be the brakes but you would probably smell them cooking if it was a sticking caliper or something

 

Take the brake pads off and spin it so you know for sure.

I've had 2 wheel bearings fail on my LR3, both had symptoms like you describe and both resulted in dangerous wheel play.