Wheel bearings

iigigol0ii · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 02:39:38 AM

Well, ho do i know if my wheel bearings need to be changed?

When driving, if i have the music down it sounds kind of like i have truck tires on, almost like i can here and very slightly sometimes feel the vibrations from them. Lately from the back when i turn the wheel a little bit i hear a loud ticking coming from the back wheel...

Are those my wheel bearings? are there any DIY's? I did a search and was unsuccessful

Jackalope · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 02:44:46 AM

The best way I know of to check them is first do a visual inspection looking for any grease seeping out or metal shavings in the area as these are a good indication of a problem. second ifyou see no such issues put the wheel back on and rotate it slowly by hand and see how it feels. Does it spin freely with a little drag? Or do you feel any roughness or chopiness as you spin it? If so then its toast. As for a DIY sorry I don't know.

nrubenstein · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 03:24:55 AM

Front wheel bearings are pretty easy to check. Jack up the front of the car and spin the left and right wheels. If one makes more noise than the other, it's probably a bad wheel bearing. (They should be pretty much silent, although it's impossible to rule out caliper rubbing without actually removing the caliper. If you take the caliper off, ANY noise when you spin it means the wheel bearing is bad.)

travisbickle · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 02:24:01 PM

In my experience, when wheel bearings go they make a high pitched constant squeek. The squeek will change pitch or go away altogether when the car is loaded to one side or the other when cornering.

jaciuro · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 02:31:55 PM

My wheels are quiet on a straight drive but when a turn kicks in I hear that truck tire sound. The harder the turn, the louder the truck tire sound. Is this any indication of a wheel bearing issue given that I don't hear the high pitched squeal?

00o00 · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 04:44:27 PM

this is what my car looked like when I had to replace the drivers side rear...

at first we thought it was leaking... but it was totally gone

The Fly · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 04:47:13 PM

My symptoms of a bad LR bearing were similar to Jaciuro's, except that it would do it in only one direction. It was more of a low-pitched humming sound than high pitched, like a mud tire at that corner. Replaced it and it's cured.

sean454 · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 07:27:40 PM

lift car up. try and move tire in and out by placing hands at 12 and 6. if there is any play in it... Wheels bearings.

nrubenstein · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 08:06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean454

lift car up. try and move tire in and out by placing hands at 12 and 6. if there is any play in it... Wheels bearings.

Of the 9 bad wheel bearings I have had, only one of them was apparent through that test.

The Fly · Fri, Jan-02-2009, 08:18:19 PM

Yep. I tried the test too and it passed. It's gotta be pretty bad to fail that test.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick325xiT 5spd

Of the 9 bad wheel bearings I have had, only one of them was apparent through that test.

Fri, Jan-02-2009, 02:39:38 AM	#1
iigigol0ii Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 762 Reputation: 11	Wheel bearings Well, ho do i know if my wheel bearings need to be changed? When driving, if i have the music down it sounds kind of like i have truck tires on, almost like i can here and very slightly sometimes feel the vibrations from them. Lately from the back when i turn the wheel a little bit i hear a loud ticking coming from the back wheel... Are those my wheel bearings? are there any DIY's? I did a search and was unsuccessful

Fri, Jan-02-2009, 02:44:46 AM	#2
Jackalope Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,017 Reputation: 0 Location: Baltimore	The best way I know of to check them is first do a visual inspection looking for any grease seeping out or metal shavings in the area as these are a good indication of a problem. second ifyou see no such issues put the wheel back on and rotate it slowly by hand and see how it feels. Does it spin freely with a little drag? Or do you feel any roughness or chopiness as you spin it? If so then its toast. As for a DIY sorry I don't know. Last edited by Jackalope; Fri, Jan-02-2009 at 03:33:47 AM.

Fri, Jan-02-2009, 03:24:55 AM	#3
nrubenstein ******* Join Date: Dec 2003 Age: 31 Posts: 7,417 Reputation: 0 Location: Washington, DC	Front wheel bearings are pretty easy to check. Jack up the front of the car and spin the left and right wheels. If one makes more noise than the other, it's probably a bad wheel bearing. (They should be pretty much silent, although it's impossible to rule out caliper rubbing without actually removing the caliper. If you take the caliper off, ANY noise when you spin it means the wheel bearing is bad.) __________________ 2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD Duramax LBZ/Allison 2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black - JBL MS-62C, IDQ-12v3, JBL MS-8 1999 323i KP/GTS2 Alpinweiß - Hood-in-the-windshield mod 1990 325is Brilliantrot/Tan - GC/Bilstein, Sway 1989 325is Alpinweiß/Black - S50B30, GC/Koni, Sways, BBS RX, Hybrid C61-2, Sundown SA-12, JBL MS-8 1989 M3 Alpinweiß/Black - S50B32. 321hp. Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo Black/Black Hers: 1988 325iX Coupe Diamondschwartz/Black 5spd - Korman lengthened front driveshaft, Cam, Bilstein, H&R Sport, snow chains.

Fri, Jan-02-2009, 02:24:01 PM	#4
travisbickle Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 407 Reputation: 0 Location: West Springfield, VA	In my experience, when wheel bearings go they make a high pitched constant squeek. The squeek will change pitch or go away altogether when the car is loaded to one side or the other when cornering. __________________ '03.5 M3\|Jet Black\|Cinnamon\|Nav\|HK Removal\|BBS LM 19s\|TCK D/A Coilovers 400F/500R\|TCK Camber Plates\|TCK Rear LCAs\|Powerflex RTABs\|TMS Subframe Reinforcement\|Borla Cat Back\|AA Stage 1 Gen 2 SC\|Mach V Motorsports TLC

Fri, Jan-02-2009, 02:31:55 PM	#5
jaciuro When will they learn that the left lane is for passing only? Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 317 Reputation: 0 Location: Tampa Bay - FL	My wheels are quiet on a straight drive but when a turn kicks in I hear that truck tire sound. The harder the turn, the louder the truck tire sound. Is this any indication of a wheel bearing issue given that I don't hear the high pitched squeal? __________________ 2004 E46 M3 6-SPD Titanium Silver/Gray Leather StopTech ST60/380mm, PowerFlex RTABs, Streamline Intake Tube & Filter 2005 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Black/Yoshimura TRC (Stolen!) 2002 Subaru WRX Stage2+Sold

Fri, Jan-02-2009, 04:44:27 PM	#6
00o00 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 691 Reputation: 0	this is what my car looked like when I had to replace the drivers side rear... at first we thought it was leaking... but it was totally gone __________________ Current Mods: Hardwired V1, Matte Black Side and Front Grills Matte Black ///M3 emblem, TCK SA's (500/500), Vorshlag Camber Plates, TCK RSM, Powerflex RTABs, Hotchkis Front Sway Bar, Turner Rear Sway Bar, GC adjustable endlinks, UUC red Transmission mounts, CDV delete, AutoSolution SSK (30% reduction), BR Racing Rear Strut bar, Turner Adjustable Rear Camber Arms, APEX ACR-8 (18x9.5 square), Nitto NT-05's (265), Vorshlag 15mm Spacers (rear), Vorshlag Studs, Turner Front Strut Re-Enforcement, Mason Engineering Strut Bar and SS Race Waiting to be Delivered or Installed: Aluminum Pedal Set

Fri, Jan-02-2009, 04:47:13 PM	#7
The Fly Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 242 Reputation: 0 Location: Atlanta	My symptoms of a bad LR bearing were similar to Jaciuro's, except that it would do it in only one direction. It was more of a low-pitched humming sound than high pitched, like a mud tire at that corner. Replaced it and it's cured.

Fri, Jan-02-2009, 07:27:40 PM	#8
sean454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,000 In the garage: '05 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Scottsdale/Portland,Or	lift car up. try and move tire in and out by placing hands at 12 and 6. if there is any play in it... Wheels bearings. __________________ 2005 CB/CINN SMG. Mods: Vcsl bumper, Vcsl vented hood, Black CF gills, Gunmetal Csl's, K&N, Agency Power exhaust w/ Ti tips, depos, umnitza 6000k, Led halos, Led Sidemarkers/reverse lights, xenon int lights, Custom Carbon fiber interior, M5 smg knob, Pioneer Avic-Z1 Nav/Dvd, Gunmetal Paddles.

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