Bearing grumble - diagniosis help please!

[Tim S]

Hi guys

Help me work out what's going wrong please. I've clearly got a bearing on the way out - an obvious bearing noise has appeared the last few week. Most noticeable around 40 mph. Coming from somewhere behind the seats.

The odd thing (to me) is that it's not corner-dependent. In fact it seems loudest when going in a straight line. So not normal wheel bearing symptons (and no obvious play in the wheel bearings with the car jacked up).

Definitely road- not engine-speed related. No difference if in gear or not, or clutch in or out.

Any ideas on what it could be before I start changing bits at random??

K-series S2 BTW.

Cheers

Tim

[robin]

Hi Tim,

Is it possible that the noise is coming from the differential or gearbox output shaft ... I would still expect some change in noise with clutch up/down, different gears, accelerating/decelerating in this case.

Of course it might just be a rough bearing that makes a noise whatever load is on it.

Obvious next step is to jack up each side, spin and rock the wheels looking for play/noise.

Cheers,
Robin

[r10crw]

As robin says it may just be rough. This is what usually happens and its long before you will have any lateral play, so the best way is to remove wheel and disk and spin the hub, the action should tight and smooth. If its on its way out it will feel notchy, with practice you can do this with the wheel on as well.
Cheers Craig.

[whaleys]

I had a similar thing, around 35-50 it was noticeable, above that you couldn't really hear much of anything other than engine . On bends, it quietened down. Turned out it was my wheel bearing. I'm starting to get similar noises coming from the opposite side now.

So don't rule out the wheel bearing yet, could still be what's causing your noise.

Graeme

[111Robin]

Try spinning each wheel while lightly holding the spring. Any roughness in the bearing will be amplified through the spring. You should feel a noticeable difference between the rough bearing and the good one.

[BiggestNizzy]

Pete had a bearing away and from inside the car you couldn't tell what side it was on, when we jacked the car up and spun the wheel it was obvious.

[kenny]

I have what appears to be a wheel bearing noise on mine but couldn't find anything obvious when the car was jacked up.

Should it be ok to last this weekends campaganza or would it be best to get a more thorough look at it done before then?

[tut]

Should be OK Kenny at the speed you will be driving.



tut

[Tim S]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. Things have been so manic at work I've not even had time to jack it up and have a look yet - but I will, cheers.

Kenny - if you've symptoms the same as Graeme had, it sounds like you'll be fine as long as you don't drive in a straight line...

Tim

[sls]

Hi Tim

Most likely just a wheel bearing but as Robin says it could be a diff bearing although I've not seen may of these go.

Feel free to give me a shout if you'd like me to have a look at it for you?

Cheers

Ali

[Tim S]

Thanks Ali I will have a go at the bearings if I ever get 5 mins, though I still need to get back to you to sort the steering rack and geo. Talk soon. Tim