Wheel Bearing/Diff Bearing...

[Calyx]

Ok about 7-10 days ago i lowered the car on adjustable coilovers and set the ride height to -60mm. I then purchased some BBS Split wheels off a BMW with H&R adaptors. So all was done properly.

Now about 3-4 days ago the car started making a whirring noise from about 30mph onwards all the way to whenever i chose to slow down. It got worse when turning left but stopped when turning right which pointed me towards N/S wheel bearing.

Today i changed the N/S wheel bearing and still have the same annoying noise.

Now am i right in thinking that when you steer left you put more force on the inner race of the O/S bearing and more force on the outer race of the N/S and vice versa?

Also could lowering the car have had an adverse effect on the way the driveshafts sit in the bearing in the gearbox and be causing that to overstress?

Thanks.

 

[DPJ]

I wouldn't expect lowering to affect your bearings.

Are you sure it isn't a CV joint?

 

[Calyx]

Possible but wouldnt that cause a knocking noise as well? All i get is an annoying whirring :/. Its so sudden though, there's nothing till about 30-35mph then its just there! Highly annoying.

Could it be a rear wheel bearing and the noise is just resonating toward the front?

 

[DPJ]

Tyre isn't rubbing on the coilover?

 

[Calyx]

Nope Tyre wear is even as well.

 

[godzuki]

If it gets worse when turning left then i would suspect the O/S RIGHT wheel bearing.
The load is transfered to the outside wheel in a turn.

 

[Calyx]

Yes but in effect this then clamps the bearing back together if you like causing the noise to dissapear until straight again? Plus there isn't any play in the wheel when jacked up. I know this method doesnt always work but i had the wheel spinning while jacked up as well (engine running, clutch released) and no sign of it being this bearing either

 

[Mike225]

Hi, I had a noise similar and tried the usual to check for play and any noise and couldn't find it at all. Had two mechanics look at it and one said gearbox and one said n/s bearing. Obviously went for the cheap option and changed n/s bearing, noise was still there!! So did o/s bearing, sorted!! For the price of the bearings I'd try that first. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[Calyx]

Well im thinking that in all honesty mate. I heard somewhere that because the tolerances of the bearings nowadays are so fine that the old play in the wheel trick doesnt always work anymore.

My gearbox is fine no crunching, nice smooth selection etc so ill try the other bearing i think

 

[Pyro]

If it happens when turning left then change the right simples your putting extra load on tge damaged bearing increasing the presure thus making it worse

When you go left you release the presure on that wheel so the noise stops

 

[Dan1720v]

yeh as above I'd say O/S bearing.

 

[Muttley]

I agree, when I had a front wheel bearing fail it was diagnosed by the noise getting worse when the bearing was loaded: it was the offside bearing and the noise got worse when turning left. Best test is in an empty car park or a long stretch of dry, empty (both ways!) road, get up to 30 mph or so and swerve from side to side (don't lose control!). This loads the bearings alternately and the change in noise should be easy to detect.

 

[Mike225]

I tried the above method to try diagnose mine and it didn't help. If the bearings had been really shot then this method may of worked?? When I inspected my old bearings they showed no signs of wear at all! The noise was gone after the new ones were fitted.

 

[Calyx]

How very strange :/. Well i changed my N/S yesterday and the bearing was shot. Still the same noise though only a little quieter?

Is it possible they both conveniently went the same time!?

 

[Wildfire]

Calyx
You mean you changed the O/S surely?

So if you've changed both sides,

Have you tried re-ftting your original wheels to the front?

It depends where your effective centre of effort (CofE) is now located - the H & R spacers and BBS rims combined ofset may have moved the CofE outboard of the bearing pack, then what you may be hearing is a slight overload of the bearing!
Refit the originals and try a run?

 

[Pyro]

Go round a roundabout the wrong way a few times and tge faster you get tge louder it will get

Obviously I'm joking

 

[Calyx]

Nope i changed the N/S as that was the one making all the racket (I know i went against logic lol).

Anyway an update on the problem is today i took it for alignment and tracking and low and behold the noise has all but gone! Still a faint whir but if i didnt already know about the noise id never of heard it.

Now though under load the O/S bearing is groaning and rubbing going round left handers. So what im thinking is (Car has done 80k) like you said Wildfire maybe the bearings were on there way out anyway and the extra strain of running a wider set up has taken its toll?

Thanks.

 

[Pyro]

As said if it happen when turnIng left then its the o/s coz that's were the weight is distributed to not the n/s it won't clam it just stress it the bearings may both be gone but it's not logic it's fact

If it's worse when going left then the right hand side is gone and visa versa

you need to be carfull with bearings coz they don't always give signs or don't sound asbad as they are I lernt the hard way with my nova and it cost me

 

[Viking]

I reckon you wanna sell it and get a Mk2. Seems you spend a lot of time fixing and fettling instead of driving and enjoying.

 

[Calyx]

HaHa Andy. I spend loads of time driving it but i like fiddling too much as well . New O/S wheel bearing and all will be well and good again.