wheel bearing which side???

[dankearney]

I have a loud rumbling, road noise like sound coming from the front end, I believe its a wheel bearing but am struggling to confirm this and cant figure out which side is the most likely offender. The noise gradulay increase with speed and is a lot worse when turning right and eases of when turning left. Would this indicate its the passenger side?? Their is no play in either side and dont believe their to be any other indication of which side. Any help would be much appriciated dont want to pay for a repair then find it to be the other side.

Dan

 

[keefy]

My front passenger side bearing went and gave the same symptoms you describe.

I think that the 'worse when turning right' description means you can be fairly sure it is the passenger side.
Have you taken it to an empty car park and driven in slow circles on full lock with your head hanging out of the window (or a mate stood nearby)? That might help you diagnose it 100%

 

[rich.h44]

How did you test 4 play,i karnt rember witch way you do it but if you grab top and bottom of the wheel and see if there is any play the the sides!1 is to test the bearing and the other cv joint,have you tried the rear wheels?

 

[dankearney]

Yeah I have tried but its not that easy to indicate thanks for the info though just confirms what I thought

Dan

 

[dankearney]

rich... I have had all four checked out for play jacking into up while on a ramp. No play.

 

[rich.h44]

Im buggered 4 sugesgens then!unless the driveshaft is going at the gearbox end,but that will be unlikely!

 

[keefy]

When I had mine done, the mechanic said he couldn't really feel any play but was sure that was the problem. Replaced it and the rumble was gone......he said the only other thing it could be was gearbox (or diff, I think) and he said that would be expensive. Luckily it was the bearing.

 

[jaymd]

Jack your car up,spin your near side wheel and grab hold of the suspension strut.You can usually feel a vibration if your bearing has gone.
If your unsure try the other side to see if there is any difference.
My near side bearing went and when turning right you could hear the droning noise.

 

[Nath.]

you say you have a rumbling,

if it is a failed wheel bearing the rumbling will be louder when the bearing is loaded up

so, if the rumbling is louder when cornering round a left bend than it will be the right bearing that is loading up and rumbling

then obviously if the rumbling is louder when cornering right then the left bearing is the dodgy one

think of it like a bucket of water sat on the passenger seat when you turn left the water will slop right and make the bucket heavy on the right side

rumbling bearings don't normally have play in them they just have balls inside that are worn and no longer totally spherical, you would need to look at the balls with a microscope to see that the balls are worn

does that help ??


I had a really really bad rumbling bearing on the front drivers side of a mk2 Astra some years ago, I replaced the bearing and fixed the problem but when I felt the bearing in my fingers it felt no different to the new one

 

[dankearney]

thanks for the help im almost certain its the passenger side bearing and most of the posts confirm this thanks, going in on Monday ill post the results.

Dan