How to Interpret mechanical Stethoscope Sounds?

[Gebo]

I got a stethoscope trying to determine if one of my wheel bearings is going bad. The front bearings are very quiet. The rear bearings are making a little more noise but when I consider it is a RWD car I realize a lot more things are turning.

Would even a simpleton like me with no experience with a stethoscope easily recognize a bad wheel bearing?

 

[ecotourist]

Be sure the ear pieces of the stethoscope are pointing forward. If they're pointing toward the back, the sound heard will be much reduced.

You will probably get the best sound transmission by compressing the rubber around the bell (the small side of a stethoscope) against a relatively flat surface. Here's a site with a good photo of the bell and the rubber surround:

https://www.amazon.ca/Littmann-Clas...&hvtargid=pla-320708498583&psc=1