Locating wheel bearing noise
Discussion
You wouldn't believe how difficult this is, I've got an Audi A4 2012 reg, I've had it years and it has been my tip run car for the last couple of years so wasn't too bothered about it. I finished all the work now so thought I'd give it a clean up and it actually came up very nice, so I thought It was worth looking into the wheel bearing noise its had for the last 6 months.
I cant decipher which wheel its coming from inside the cabin, even with the windows down, neither can my mate, I think its probably the front. I've tried jacking it up and checking for play on all 4 wheels, there is absolutely none either side to side or top to bottom. The car is 4 wheel drive so spinning the wheels by hand isn't easy but if I do all I hear is the brakes rubbing slightly, everything else feels smooth on all 4 wheels. I've even grabbed the springs at the front to feel for any vibration, again there is nothing. I cant reach the rear springs and spin the wheels though, will need help for that.
I'd say its definitely a wheel bearing noise, a drone that starts about 20mph and gets louder the faster I go. Not sure what else to do now, maybe get a new hub/bearing for the front and try one side, then put the removed on on the other side if its no better, I don't believe they are sided. They come already pressed together so its only 4 bolts and the driveshaft holding them in although I think they can be a bit difficult to separate.
Not sure what else I can do, I changed the front diff bearing in it a few years ago but that sounded more of a grinding noise than a drone, there was movement in the drive shaft and when I took the cover off the bearing fell to pieces it was that bad, I was expecting similar with the wheel bearing.
I cant decipher which wheel its coming from inside the cabin, even with the windows down, neither can my mate, I think its probably the front. I've tried jacking it up and checking for play on all 4 wheels, there is absolutely none either side to side or top to bottom. The car is 4 wheel drive so spinning the wheels by hand isn't easy but if I do all I hear is the brakes rubbing slightly, everything else feels smooth on all 4 wheels. I've even grabbed the springs at the front to feel for any vibration, again there is nothing. I cant reach the rear springs and spin the wheels though, will need help for that.
I'd say its definitely a wheel bearing noise, a drone that starts about 20mph and gets louder the faster I go. Not sure what else to do now, maybe get a new hub/bearing for the front and try one side, then put the removed on on the other side if its no better, I don't believe they are sided. They come already pressed together so its only 4 bolts and the driveshaft holding them in although I think they can be a bit difficult to separate.
Not sure what else I can do, I changed the front diff bearing in it a few years ago but that sounded more of a grinding noise than a drone, there was movement in the drive shaft and when I took the cover off the bearing fell to pieces it was that bad, I was expecting similar with the wheel bearing.
Usually its only one of the 4 bearings across and axle that gives up, in theory if you take a left hand bend and the noise/grind increases it points to the outer race on the offside.
However that can be misleading, i helped a friend change the most obvious front wheel bearing on his Peug 305 years ago, no improvement it turned out to be the inner race failing on the other side.
Taper bearings were so much better in that it was the work of minutes to drop the outer race set out and inspect the rollers and the taper, sensible owners would be doing this anyway to repack with fresh grease and/or re-adjust for wear every few years.
With sealed pre pack bearings no such inspection possible and every chance the bearing pack will be destroyed during removal.
All you can do is make your best judgement and hope you've chosen right, if no rumbling is heard spinning by hand (you can whip the pads out to help there) and no increase in noise/grind cornering then it might be worth leaving a while longer until things become more obvious.
Lazer thermometers are cheap enough, a check on hub temps after a run, using minimal braking, might help locate the culprit.
Hopefully you can leave this job till the spring arrives anyway.
However that can be misleading, i helped a friend change the most obvious front wheel bearing on his Peug 305 years ago, no improvement it turned out to be the inner race failing on the other side.
Taper bearings were so much better in that it was the work of minutes to drop the outer race set out and inspect the rollers and the taper, sensible owners would be doing this anyway to repack with fresh grease and/or re-adjust for wear every few years.
With sealed pre pack bearings no such inspection possible and every chance the bearing pack will be destroyed during removal.
All you can do is make your best judgement and hope you've chosen right, if no rumbling is heard spinning by hand (you can whip the pads out to help there) and no increase in noise/grind cornering then it might be worth leaving a while longer until things become more obvious.
Lazer thermometers are cheap enough, a check on hub temps after a run, using minimal braking, might help locate the culprit.
Hopefully you can leave this job till the spring arrives anyway.
I probably will leave it it a while longer but at the moment I've got time and the weather is perfect for this sort of job. I've spent the last few days cleaning the van and the car inside and out, I also finished prepping the front and back garden ready for next spring. I've never been able to work outside this late into the year before now. It has the added bonus that if you work up a sweat outside you don't need the heating on when you do come inside.
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Mrs NDA has an Audi A3 and there's a rubbing coming from the front nearside - as far as I can tell. We've changed the front tyres - they needed a change, but though it might be a flat spot. Nope. We've been to two Audi garages who can't find anything wrong - wheel bearings checked, brakes and pads are fairly new....
I am going to take a look tomorrow just in case there's something in the wheel arch - but I can't see anything from a cursory inspection.
It's not loud, but definitely there at low speeds... worse when turning left.
Mrs NDA has an Audi A3 and there's a rubbing coming from the front nearside - as far as I can tell. We've changed the front tyres - they needed a change, but though it might be a flat spot. Nope. We've been to two Audi garages who can't find anything wrong - wheel bearings checked, brakes and pads are fairly new....
I am going to take a look tomorrow just in case there's something in the wheel arch - but I can't see anything from a cursory inspection.
It's not loud, but definitely there at low speeds... worse when turning left.
Frane Selak said:
How, the hubs will be hot from the braking anyway won't they
He has a point, i do this with my truck on a long run to check for brake drag/bearing wear, choosing a suitable MSA (or uphill layby on a dual carriageway) slow down on gears only to bring the vehicle to a final halt.A walk around feeling the tyres and taking temp readings of the brakes and hubs with a lazer thermometer can give early warnings of binding brakes and worn bearings.
What brand of tyres are fitted and are the tread blocks worn unevenly.
I had a wheel bearing noise on a 3 series a few years ago.
I ended up replacing all 4x wheel bearings and a propshaft centre bearing trying to resolve it. I was 100% convinced it was a bearing (I’m a qualified mechanic so I’ve replaced hundreds over the years)
Anyway last ditch attempt, put a full set of new tyres on it.
Instantly cured it.
The funny thing was, I kept the tyres as they had tread on them. I stuck a couple of them on a merc a year later and the noise was there again.
I had a wheel bearing noise on a 3 series a few years ago.
I ended up replacing all 4x wheel bearings and a propshaft centre bearing trying to resolve it. I was 100% convinced it was a bearing (I’m a qualified mechanic so I’ve replaced hundreds over the years)
Anyway last ditch attempt, put a full set of new tyres on it.
Instantly cured it.
The funny thing was, I kept the tyres as they had tread on them. I stuck a couple of them on a merc a year later and the noise was there again.
Ritchie335is said:
What brand of tyres are fitted and are the tread blocks worn unevenly.
I had a wheel bearing noise on a 3 series a few years ago.
I ended up replacing all 4x wheel bearings and a propshaft centre bearing trying to resolve it. I was 100% convinced it was a bearing (I m a qualified mechanic so I ve replaced hundreds over the years)
Anyway last ditch attempt, put a full set of new tyres on it.
Instantly cured it.
The funny thing was, I kept the tyres as they had tread on them. I stuck a couple of them on a merc a year later and the noise was there again.
you've got me thinking whether it could be a prop bearing now, if there is a centre bearing on it, will have to have a look. I doubt it the tyres as one day there wasn't any noise and the next day there was a pronounced rumble out of nowhere, it gradually got louder as the days and weeks went on, it certainly sounded like a wheel bearing to me though, and the tyres are fairly new with not a lot of miles on them.I had a wheel bearing noise on a 3 series a few years ago.
I ended up replacing all 4x wheel bearings and a propshaft centre bearing trying to resolve it. I was 100% convinced it was a bearing (I m a qualified mechanic so I ve replaced hundreds over the years)
Anyway last ditch attempt, put a full set of new tyres on it.
Instantly cured it.
The funny thing was, I kept the tyres as they had tread on them. I stuck a couple of them on a merc a year later and the noise was there again.
funny you should mention the tyres though, I sold my old van to a mate and he put two part worn tyres on the front, as soon as he did he reckoned a wheel bearing noise started up but someone told him it would probably just be the tyres.
How to identify where a bearing noise is coming from?
First answer these questions.
Is the noise there in a straight line?
Does the noise increase more with slow speed/higher speed cornering? If so in which direction.
Is it worse in forward or reverse, if you have somewhere to test it, that is?
First answer these questions.
Is the noise there in a straight line?
Does the noise increase more with slow speed/higher speed cornering? If so in which direction.
Is it worse in forward or reverse, if you have somewhere to test it, that is?
Definitely worth swapping the tyres front to back (keeping them on the same sides) and seeing if the noise shifts with the tyres. Its relatively inexpensive on time and gives useful information.
The other approach is to live with it for longer and let it develop further. If you've checked the hubs aren't getting hot and there's no play, it will be safe.
The other approach is to live with it for longer and let it develop further. If you've checked the hubs aren't getting hot and there's no play, it will be safe.
... when the tyre is no longer round, but a series of facets where each block is distorted; you can feel this with your hands if you pass them over the tread surface, it may even catch your hand going in one direction more than another. The noise this creates, as each facet 'hits' the road (rather than cleanly rolling over it), sounds just like a noisy wheel bearing, and increases in pitch with road speed, too.
Frane Selak said:
What is tyre blocking/wedging?
Had this many years ago on a tyre where each tread block had worn like a wedge shape so if you had flattened out the full tyre it would look like a saw blade.Although I would describe the sound it made more like a rumble than a normal wheel bearing noise, but I am sure it could come out differently with other patterns of wear.
Right I finally had a go at this today, takes a lot of willpower to commit to working outside on a car in this temperature, especially when the chance of hitting an ice cold finger with a hammer is more than zero. Anyway I finished work early today so thought I'd give it a go whilst it wasn't raining, and by the end of it I was working in a t-shirt.
I took a total guess that it was the front passenger side bearing that was noisy, it felt ever so slightly rougher than the driver side and the noise seemed to come from the front, but when you were driving and put the music up loud, if you suddenly switched the music off the sound definitely came from that area for a second or two.
Very first thing I tried to do was undo the driveshaft bolt.
Waste of time, £8 of Amazon. But not to be defeated I got the grinder out and cut the broken end off so I could get a socket onto it instead, that worked a treat. The other bolts holding the bearing on came out fairly easily, triple square as always on Audi's, luckily I had a set already. Getting the bearing out of the hub was so difficult though, I got a slide hammer off ebay in advance as I knew I would need it and it took about half an hour or more of constant banging, levering and SDS chiselling to get it off but eventually it gave. Putting it back together was easy, everything bolted back up perfectly.
Road test and....Great sucess, its now quiet again.
This is the bearing I got
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127319922490
and this is the slide hammer I got, could have done with being a bit heavier but it did the job eventually.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176497371444
I took a total guess that it was the front passenger side bearing that was noisy, it felt ever so slightly rougher than the driver side and the noise seemed to come from the front, but when you were driving and put the music up loud, if you suddenly switched the music off the sound definitely came from that area for a second or two.
Very first thing I tried to do was undo the driveshaft bolt.
Waste of time, £8 of Amazon. But not to be defeated I got the grinder out and cut the broken end off so I could get a socket onto it instead, that worked a treat. The other bolts holding the bearing on came out fairly easily, triple square as always on Audi's, luckily I had a set already. Getting the bearing out of the hub was so difficult though, I got a slide hammer off ebay in advance as I knew I would need it and it took about half an hour or more of constant banging, levering and SDS chiselling to get it off but eventually it gave. Putting it back together was easy, everything bolted back up perfectly.
Road test and....Great sucess, its now quiet again.
This is the bearing I got
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127319922490
and this is the slide hammer I got, could have done with being a bit heavier but it did the job eventually.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176497371444
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