Yesterday I drove my 1999 Legacy Outback, 2.5L to the postoffice a couple miles from home. On the way back home, a "clunking" noise started in the front. It seemed to be coming either from the center or the from the right wheel area. As the speed increased, the got quieter, but was faster. As I slowed down, just before stopping, the noise slowed down, but got a bit louder.

 

Does this sound like a drive shaft problem, wheel bearing, brake problem or something else? I've only had the car a couple months so I hope it's not something expensive to repair.

did you 'feel' any jerking/bucking? do some tight circles on flat dry pavement. Car should idle-or just above idle- thru with no binding or jerking.

 

if the car is an automatic, try driving with the FWD fuse in place.

 

try swapping tire front to back.

 

are the axle boots split?

The day after I posted my question, I took the car to the garage where I bought it. After about 15 minutes of checking under the car, the mechanic asked if I had taken the right front wheel off. I told him no, and he said one nut was missing and the others were so loose he could turn them with his fingers. He tightened the nuts and replaced the missing nut and no more noise. He also checked the other wheels.

 

When I bought it, he said he did some brake work, so I think he failed to tighten the nuts.