Wheel Bearing

roblatus · 18-07-2006, 19:53

Can someone tell me what it sounds like when a wheel bearing starts to fail??

I have noticed a sort of whine/howl from my car since i swapped a wheel from the front to the back to pinpoint a vibration through the steering wheel which is down to bad balancing and i am getting all the wheels finger plate balanced tomorrow.

The noise sort of sounds like the type of thing you get when you drive on an old concrete road instead of a tarmac one?????

It doesn't seem to get particularly worse when going faster either.

Also the car has only done 23k miles so what is the likelihood of a wheel bearing failing that early?

finally what sort of period of time should i expect it to get worse over if it was a bearing?

Thanks for any help or advice

f1btn · 18-07-2006, 20:06

the wheel bearing on my octy started to whine a month ago and i quickly found it to be one of the fronts then checked which direction it made more noise (i.e turning right at speed in this case ) so replaced the front nearside bearing,all is well now it was buggered.
Was told by the local scud dealer that front failures are common.

Lummox · 18-07-2006, 20:10

A good way of checking them is jack the car up, spin the wheel whilst holding the road spring. If the bearing has failed you can usually feel a vibration/rumbling in the spring.

roblatus · 18-07-2006, 20:26

I jacked the car up last weekend and spun each wheel in turn but could not notice anything out of the ordinary. Will maybe try again tomorrow but hold the spring this time

If i needed to replace one how easy a job is it??

Lummox · 18-07-2006, 20:35

You need a hydraulic press to do it.

roblatus · 18-07-2006, 20:59

My car is still under warranty so if it looks like it is the bearing then i may give the dealer a call.

Wonder if they will try and blame the bearing failing on fitting bigger alloys or vRS suspension though? and therefore not do it under warranty

Unless i can get one of these hydraulic press things and do it myself.

Lummox · 18-07-2006, 21:08

Well a good quality press to do bearings will set you back a few hundred quid at least. The VAG one we have was £1500.

roblatus · 18-07-2006, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummox

Well a good quality press to do bearings will set you back a few hundred quid at least. The VAG one we have was £1500.

Thats that idea out of the window then

Getting wheels balanced and swapped around tommorrow, will also spin wheels and check for vibration through spring, if it looks like a bearing then i will give the dealer a call. I have a few other minor issues that it needs to go in for anyway such as a rattling radiator.

Thanks for the help

roblatus · 18-07-2006, 21:13

Just out of interest is there anyway that a wheel bearing faliure could be casued by my wheels or suspenison mods?????

Lummox · 18-07-2006, 21:47

In thoery yes, unlikely but your dealer could get out of it should they wish to. But give it a go.

roblatus · 18-07-2006, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummox

In thoery yes, unlikely but your dealer could get out of it should they wish to. But give it a go.

cheers for the advice, i am on first name terms with the worskhop manager and he know my car has some mods but they have always been ok with it when it has been in for a few things in the past so i will keep my fingers crossed if it comes to taking it in.

Thanks again

roblatus · 19-07-2006, 18:14

Jacked the car up again today one wheel at a time, spun each wheel inturn while holding the spring with the other hand. I could feel no vibration through the spring while doing this on both the front wheels. I also tried the back too and felt nothing.

I am begining to wonder if it is noise from the tyres perhaps as i have also tried turning hard round a roundabout to see if the sound gets worse and i does not. I have also tried some hard left hand turns too and still the noise is not worse.

18-07-2006, 19:53	#1
roblatus Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire Posts: 1,054 Members Car: Mazda MX-5 RS Spec Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Wheel Bearing Can someone tell me what it sounds like when a wheel bearing starts to fail?? I have noticed a sort of whine/howl from my car since i swapped a wheel from the front to the back to pinpoint a vibration through the steering wheel which is down to bad balancing and i am getting all the wheels finger plate balanced tomorrow. The noise sort of sounds like the type of thing you get when you drive on an old concrete road instead of a tarmac one????? It doesn't seem to get particularly worse when going faster either. Also the car has only done 23k miles so what is the likelihood of a wheel bearing failing that early? finally what sort of period of time should i expect it to get worse over if it was a bearing? Thanks for any help or advice __________________ 1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways

18-07-2006, 20:06	#2
f1btn Site Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: brighton Posts: 177 Members Car: octavia vrs 03 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing the wheel bearing on my octy started to whine a month ago and i quickly found it to be one of the fronts then checked which direction it made more noise (i.e turning right at speed in this case ) so replaced the front nearside bearing,all is well now it was buggered. Was told by the local scud dealer that front failures are common. __________________

18-07-2006, 20:10	#3
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,497 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 760 Times in 638 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing A good way of checking them is jack the car up, spin the wheel whilst holding the road spring. If the bearing has failed you can usually feel a vibration/rumbling in the spring. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

18-07-2006, 20:26	#4
roblatus Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire Posts: 1,054 Members Car: Mazda MX-5 RS Spec Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing I jacked the car up last weekend and spun each wheel in turn but could not notice anything out of the ordinary. Will maybe try again tomorrow but hold the spring this time If i needed to replace one how easy a job is it?? __________________ 1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways

18-07-2006, 20:35	#5
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,497 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 760 Times in 638 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing You need a hydraulic press to do it. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

18-07-2006, 20:59	#6
roblatus Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire Posts: 1,054 Members Car: Mazda MX-5 RS Spec Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing My car is still under warranty so if it looks like it is the bearing then i may give the dealer a call. Wonder if they will try and blame the bearing failing on fitting bigger alloys or vRS suspension though? and therefore not do it under warranty Unless i can get one of these hydraulic press things and do it myself. __________________ 1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways

18-07-2006, 21:08	#7
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,497 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 760 Times in 638 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing Well a good quality press to do bearings will set you back a few hundred quid at least. The VAG one we have was £1500. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

18-07-2006, 21:13	#9
roblatus Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire Posts: 1,054 Members Car: Mazda MX-5 RS Spec Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing Just out of interest is there anyway that a wheel bearing faliure could be casued by my wheels or suspenison mods????? __________________ 1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways

18-07-2006, 21:47	#10
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,497 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 760 Times in 638 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing In thoery yes, unlikely but your dealer could get out of it should they wish to. But give it a go. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

19-07-2006, 18:14	#12
roblatus Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire Posts: 1,054 Members Car: Mazda MX-5 RS Spec Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Wheel Bearing Jacked the car up again today one wheel at a time, spun each wheel inturn while holding the spring with the other hand. I could feel no vibration through the spring while doing this on both the front wheels. I also tried the back too and felt nothing. I am begining to wonder if it is noise from the tyres perhaps as i have also tried turning hard round a roundabout to see if the sound gets worse and i does not. I have also tried some hard left hand turns too and still the noise is not worse. __________________ 1998 Mazda Roadster 1.8 RS Spec. spending a lot of time sideways

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