Driving on a shot wheel bearing..

[bdr529]

Just been up to Preston to look at an mk2 MR2 that my mate was interested in, turned out to be a very tidy car. Only fault there is a knocking/juddering coming from the rear offside, which the dealer and the mechanic there agree was a shot wheel bearing.

My mate is going back up to collect the car on Saturday, it will be driven from Preston down here to Telford, I've heard mixed stories about driving on a wheel bearing that is shot.

What are the possible consequences of doing this? He wants to know whether to find a garage and get it fixed before he sets off on his journey down here in it.

Help appreciated, cheers.

[The Nur]

If your mate can get it done before driving down, do it. Why risk anything going wrong?

[sherman]

bdr529 said:

What are the possible consequences of doing this?

Could you not trailer it down?

[bdr529]

sherman said:

bdr529 said:

What are the possible consequences of doing this?

Could you not trailer it down?

Ah.

No trailer. I shall tell him to fix it.

[Big Worm 1]

It has actually happened to me. The offside rear wheel came off while i was driving. Luckily no-one got hurt but if it had happened on the motorway or a busier street, i hate to think!

[Gad-Westy]

Big Worm 1 said:

It has actually happened to me. The offside rear wheel came off while i was driving. Luckily no-one got hurt but if it had happened on the motorway or a busier street, i hate to think!

Surely not down to a wheel bearing failure though? Generally when bearings fail, they start to rumble and then after a long time will seize up. I can't see how it would ever lead to a wheel coming off.

[Gad-Westy]

bdr529 said:

Only fault there is a knocking/juddering coming from the rear offside, which the dealer and the mechanic there agree was a shot wheel bearing.

This doesn't sound right to me. A wheel bearing will generally rumble when it is shot. Not a knock. If it's happening whilst driving, your description makes it sound more like a drive shaft issue.

[Big Worm 1]

Gad-Westy said:

Big Worm 1 said:

It has actually happened to me. The offside rear wheel came off while i was driving. Luckily no-one got hurt but if it had happened on the motorway or a busier street, i hate to think!

Surely not down to a wheel bearing failure though? Generally when bearings fail, they start to rumble and then after a long time will seize up. I can't see how it would ever lead to a wheel coming off.

I'm no mechanic, but that's what i was told by one after it happened. Plus the picture above shows the same thing happening.

[evojeff]

Hi, if the wheel bearing fails badly enough, only the brake caliper (if discs fitted) will keep the hub in place, even then i've known stub axles to shear off when the bearing seizes.
You need a professional opinion to decide whether it's drivable for any distance;)

[Gad-Westy]

evojeff said:

Hi, if the wheel bearing fails badly enough, only the brake caliper (if discs fitted) will keep the hub in place, even then i've known stub axles to shear off when the bearing seizes.
You need a professional opinion to decide whether it's drivable for any distance;)

Yeah, must admit, my brain is waking up a bit now and I can see that if the outer race and inner race separate there isn't going to be a great deal holding the hub onto the car.

[evojeff]

No prob, it's early;)

[S3_Graham]

still sounds weird that a wheel bearing would make a knocking noise?? unless its utterly mullered.