Wheel Bearings

[Kedge]

How can i check to see if any of my wheel bearings need replacing, i can here a humming noise coming from what i think is the O/S front wheel area, but want to make usre thats what it is.

[OllieB]

For starters, jack up the wheel in question. Then grab it with both hands and try and wrench it off, if it makes some sort of clicking noise or has too much movement then this can be an indication of a shot bearing. You could also try spinning the wheel, but TBH it prob only makes a noise with a load on it (eg the weight of the car)

[Kedge]

Just yried this, no play on the wheel, but when you spin it at a cerain point it sounds like theres metal on metal rubbing somewhere on the hub.

[MONSPORT42]

Could that be a warped break disc rather than a bearing. Worn bearings sound worse when going round corners.

[Kedge]

Yea could be thinking about it. Just take it off and see what it looks like?

[Andy335Touring]

Have a look at the sh!t guard as well

[Artis]

dose the noies get loader the faster you go , or dose it disaerper when you brake

[Simon13]

just jack it up on the front, spin the wheel. Discard any disk/pad noise and listen for a light grindy bearing type noise. Also if it's a bit knackered the wheel will not spin freely mate and will have a small resistance when u try to spin it.

Front bearings are really easy to change too mate too so no worries from a DIY point of view

[Jos]

If you are trying to locate a noise like this, the best thing is to use a brush shaft with a nail in the endof it half hammered in. Sound travels better through solids and makes it easier to pinpoint stuff. Nail against the thing you are checking, ear against the other end, spin wheel. If its a baring it should sound like a 'grumbling' sound (lol, I know what I am trying to describe but sounds in words is hard) If its the disc or something else rubbing it will be more intermittant than the baring noise as it should be semi constant.

Really hard to describe, but if you try it on a few things that make noise you will see what I mean.

[Kedge]

No noise sounds more like a humming when i'm in the car and doesnt get louder the faster i go, also the noise is intermitent and again doesn't seem to get faster as i go faster

[johnono]

is the noise constant?

or is it more when its under load ( cornering ) ?

[Kedge]

Constant, although i haven't noticed if it goes away on corners or under braking.

[OllieB]

Worn balljoint.......??

[johnono]

sure its from the front?

[Jos]

constant noise with no pitch change isn't a wheel baring, sounds more like a CV, hence echoing Johnono's comment: sure it's from the front?

[Kedge]

Pretty sure it's from the front, and when i turned the O/S front wheel when it was jacked up it was making a noise.

Listening on the way to work can't ell if it goes under braking but it is still present when i'm turning.

[OllieB]

'Pretty sure it's from the front, and when i turned the O/S front wheel when it was jacked up it was making a noise.'

Not meaning to patronise you mate but the wheel will always make a noise when you spin it. You have to establish if the noise shouldn't be there. Try doing the same to the other side and comparing...

[Kedge]

Doubt it should be there mate, sounds like metal on metal rubbing at a certain point of a rotation of the wheel.

[Jos]

Slight warp in the disc and a sticky caliper? See if it goes away when you brake.

Tricky one this without hearing it

[Kedge]

Yeah, and it's so hard trying to explain noises as well.

Think it could be something to do with the brakes as i can't really hear it under braking, will take a jack along to donnington a get someone with more knowledge to have a listen.

Cheers for the help lads.