vibration / noisey wheel

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 29 Dec 2004, 00:09

hi all
i can hear this vibrating / rumbling noise when i drive about 35mph+, first about a month ago i though it was the fan but i have now realised its something to do with the wheels
i hear it when steering left or straight on montorways, a soon as i go round a right bend, the noise stops
this got me thing its the left wheel, but dont know what
anyone have ideas?

Dave Burns · Post by **Dave Burns** » 29 Dec 2004, 01:11

Wheel bearing, it can be either side so don't attach much importants to the direction the car is going when the noise stops, you need to rotate the wheels by hand and see if you can feel play or roughness.
Dave

b21playa · Post by **b21playa** » 29 Dec 2004, 02:54

cheers
will get a look at it
any particular way to test

Dave Burns · Post by **Dave Burns** » 29 Dec 2004, 03:12

Grab the wheel at the top and bottom and feel for play in the vertical plane by trying to rock it vigourousely, there wont be much if any in the early stages but it will develop as the condition worsens.
To feel for any roughness in the bearing, make sure the brake pads are well away from the disc so the wheel turns smoothly, put the wheel back on and turn it back and forth a few degrees while applying pressure at the bottom and pulling at the top for the drivers side wheel, passenger side, push at top and pull at bottom, you may feel a slight knock as the damaged part of the race is pushed against the ball bearings.
Dave

burns · Post by **burns** » 03 Jan 2005, 16:36

I've got the same problem at the moment, except only when turning right/on motorways.Is it an easy job to change the bearing, the haynes makes it sound quite hard with talk of special tools?

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 03 Jan 2005, 23:46

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by burns</i>

Is it an easy job to change the bearing,
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
You need a decent set of tools. A press would come in handy, but failing that, a biggish bench vice would be OK. Haynes gives the job four spanners on a scale of five, so judge for yourself. What you could do is get a new bearing, take off the hub carrier and take it to your local garage for fitting.