little of this, little of that...

[walth]

-I'm going to need to replace the VC gasket sooner or later, as it's leaking oil pretty good.

-When up to speeds over 20mph there's a humming coming from the rear drivers side wheel well, and more noticeable on the highway. Anyone got an answer?

-Car pulls to the right at speeds over 20mph but I assume that's the an alignment issue?

You probably don't need to actually buy another valve cover gasket. They usually last just about forever. But rtv'd extremely well and then put back on.

I wouldn't just assume bearings. make sure your brake adjuster isn't locked up in the rear. when you jack up the car in the rear and the ebrake is off, how easy is it to turn the back wheel? if it feels locked or rubs then you need to check the adjuster, they seize all the time. if it's not brakes rubbing but sort of grinding/popping (I'm kind of guessing cuz idk the sound) when the tire is spinning or there is play in the wheel then it'll be your bearing.

as far as the car pulling to the right, (I'm going to guess a right brake) you'll need to start checking things out like others posted. I would also check brakes again though too. after driving for at least 5 minutes, stop in somewhere and get out and touch each wheel. note the temperature of each and let us know if any are hot enough to burn you, no joke. could be a seizing brake. I don't imagine alignment so much because you'll readjust the steering wheel to go straight...make sense? and if you want to check your alignment you can measure the front wheels on the front and back and see if there's any difference. That's how most of us do our alignments and it's spot on.

[WmWatt]

Photos of rear wheel bearing replacement

http://www.photobucket.com/Festiva-backwheel

[htchbck]

I don't imagine alignment so much because you'll readjust the steering wheel to go straight...make sense? and if you want to check your alignment you can measure the front wheels on the front and back and see if there's any difference. That's how most of us do our alignments and it's spot on.

Very true. Unless its a camber problem... that can give a bad pull left or right. When we got Babystiva someone had replaced the struts at some point and spun the drivers side tophat 180*. Changes camber a good bit. Completely ate the outer edge of an otherwise half tread tire in a few hundred miles.