Sshhhhhhh - Whats causing this noise?

[Whatty]

On Saturday I took the Mini on its 1st long trip (under my ownership anyway) to a British car show - 150 mile round trip and she ran really well, steady oil pressure at 50psi etc but at 20mph+ I can hear a constant Shshshshshshshshshshsh. Pulled over and disconnected the speedo cable thinking that this might be the cause, Nope still did it. Fanbelt taught and fine. The sound isn't so loud as to cause me alarm and is present with the front wheels straight ahead and coasting out of gear so I'm a bit stumped as to what it can be.

I jacked the car up last night and grabbing the RH wheel discovered 1/8" - 1/4" play laterally and vertically. The LH side was fine with no play.

Soooo.... bearing on the way out?

Thoughts anyone?


PS I did post this on the TMF - best diagnosis I could get was tyre noise

[guru_1071]

if its play both ways then its either the wheel bearing, or the whole bearing moving in the hub

[Whatty]

guru_1071 said:

if its play both ways then its either the wheel bearing, or the whole bearing moving in the hub

Right thanks - so how can I tell one from t'other?

So either the bearing shagged or the hub AND bearing ???

Edited for blonde moment:

Edited by Whatty on Friday 24th April 13:45

[Cooperman]

Sounds like a wheel bearing needs replacing.

[Whatty]

How easy is it for a novice to replace a wheel bearing?

Should I do the hub bit as well? Both sides?

Mini specialists are a bit thin on the ground in my neck of the woods so I'd like to attempt some DIY but I'm a bit apprehensive.....

[Cooper1999]

Whatty, its surprisingly easy - just follow the Haynes manual (there was an article with colour pictures in Minimag which I used first time which was even easier to follow, a picture paints a thousand words and all that!).
You do need a very large hub socket though - 1 1/4" is it? And there's always the possibility of the nut being 'bloody hell' tight! I had to ask for advice on how to get it loose, and ended up being shown a two leg type devise which levers against the ground as you use the hub socket. I also got my hands on a few different sizes of brass punch to knock the bearing out/in.
But have a go, take your time and you'll get there (and do you fancy doing mine when you're finished )

Edited by Cooper1999 on Friday 24th April 21:10

Edited by Cooper1999 on Friday 24th April 21:11

[GinELla]

I would first try to switch the rear wheels. The problem could lie in the tyre or the rim.

[guru_1071]

Whatty said:

I jacked the car up last night and grabbing the RH wheel discovered 1/8" - 1/4" play laterally and vertically.

GinELla said:

I would first try to switch the rear wheels. The problem could lie in the tyre or the rim.

what?

how does a tyre or rim problem give 1/8 - 1/4" of play????????

Edited by guru_1071 on Saturday 25th April 20:35