Wheel bearing or tyre?

[amiers]

hi all, i have always had a bit of tyre noise coming into the car, however in the last two days it seems to have got much worse. i also have a slight vibration through the steering wheel, not like a wheel balance prob, but a constant little one. the noise is almost no existant from 0-60 worst at 60-100 and die's down a little at 120 on. i also noticed that if i swing the car to the left the noise die's down, if i go right it picks up. i have sat in the back, while some one else drove. and the noise is way worse in the front. so i can almost say for sure it's the front end.

i am assuming i have a wheel bearing problem, or the tyre's have gone up ****** creek. car has done 280.000k's so i dont know if the bearings have been done. tyre's are 245/45/18 Falken and have done about 5,000.

[ronwest]

I'd hazard a guess at front right wheel bearing.

Have a browse through this for some info:-

http://www.fordforums.com.au/vbporta...article&id=319

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by ronwest

I'd hazard a guess at front right wheel bearing.

oop's, make that the LEFT front wheel bearing (hub will need replacing).

[ebxr8240]

Fit new bearings, they are quite cheap...

[Tech Trainer]

What is the sound like? High pitched or more of a rumbling type noise?

What do your tyres look like smooth from tread to tread or different heaights?

Are they wearing evenly from inside to outside of the tread?

Push comes to shove try rotating and balancing the tyres front to rear and see if the noise changes in any way.

[Mechan1k]

I am sure I have seen on www.ozeparts.com.au the new replacement bearings for sale on there ... looked like a decent price as well.

I think I have similar issues with mine.

[amiers]

tyre's are wearing even, and i have rubbed my hand around them and the seem to be smooth. the noise is a rumble sometimes it sounds like the noise you get when you run over the side strips on N.S.W highways.

[Tech Trainer]

I had Falken tyres on my XR and they turned noisey.

I would still go with the rotate and balance before shelling out to buy and fit and new bearing/hub assembly.

[JC]

I had a humcomigfrom mine and it was bearings. At $150 per side (trade price), -plus $90 to fit, I wouldn't say it's cheap, but it is worth it.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by JC

I had a humcomigfrom mine and it was bearings. At $150 per side (trade price), -plus $90 to fit, I wouldn't say it's cheap, but it is worth it.

Ebay has the hubs for around $85ea and I notice the link that Mech supplied has them around the same price. Both are + freight.

[walker]

being tyres like of that size it is possible that the tyres are scolloped which means on the inside of the tyre there are and low spots which causes noise and viabration, this is caused from bad allignment toe, camber and or caster..Just a thought anyway a little rare considering they have only sdone 5k........

go with what Tech Trainer said first and go with the rotate and balance

[hawke]

Some tyres such as Goodyear Eagle F1's are very noisy when they get old and hard - that is about 40,000 km.

The noise will sound like a wheel bearing, and there may not be any strange wear on the tyre.

[amiers]

also noticed today that when i drive the car from cold it takes about 2-3 k's before it starts to get noisey. i think that is the bearings. the wheel align is bang on so i dont think the tyre's have gone that bad that quick.

p.s it has now become a real drone.

[au2sw]

wheel bearing. i just did mine not long ago and while i was at it i checked all bearings and found a rear needed to be replaced as well. NOTE: front bearing is complete hub assembly, rear is bearing only. i paid $130 for the front hub and $30 for the rear bearing. replace them asap as if you leave it too long it can cause more damage, and could even cause an accident.
col

[walker]

wheel bearing for sure then

[amiers]

update! got time today to pull the front wheels off. found a little wear on the inside of the front right, have got a bit of camber dialed in so a little is expected, but the left is worn 1/2 again as much!!!

my wheel align was only done 3 months ago and it drives dead straight. so i think i will take it back and get the wheels rotated and align checked before i do the bearings. i have had a problem in another car where the camber was wrong and when the tyre started to wear it caused noise.

[Mechan1k]

I thnk I better get mine checked in the ute then ... I'd say mine haven't been replaced either and I am at 206,000-odd kays ... and I get pretty much the same symptoms.

As mentioned ... www.ozeparts.com.au sell you the complete hub assembly for the AU for $80 +postage (which is usually bugger all) ... and you get the parts in about 1-2 days to your door.

It's about the cheapest place that I have found them ... easier than using eBay.

Another thing to add to my to-do list now.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

I thnk I better get mine checked in the ute then ... I'd say mine haven't been replaced either and I am at 206,000-odd kays ... and I get pretty much the same symptoms.

As mentioned ... www.ozeparts.com.au sell you the complete hub assembly for the AU for $80 +postage (which is usually bugger all) ... and you get the parts in about 1-2 days to your door.

It's about the cheapest place that I have found them ... easier than using eBay.

Another thing to add to my to-do list now.

When I was looking for them I couldn't find them on that site, hence my purchase through Ford. Bugger, Could've got 2 for the price of 1.

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by JC

When I was looking for them I couldn't find them on that site, hence my purchase through Ford. Bugger, Could've got 2 for the price of 1.

I know exactly what you mean ... bloody annoying ... especially if you knew you could have held off for a little longer to get it at that price.

I guess sometimes you just pay the cash to get it fixed no matter what ... I know I have had to do the same thing before. :

[amiers]

got the car checked at the tyre shop today. front left camber was way out. so got the tyre's rotated and new align. some of the noise is gone but still enough to be annoying. the guy said that if it's been out for a while it could have loaded the bearing up to much and now its stuffed.

worse thing is they gave it back to me with the steering wheel off center!!! i hate that so it will be going back monday!

[TICTRAK]

As many have said the front bearings can be noisey especaly at low speeds turning, my AU's 350k and just fitted some from bayford off ebay had to buy them singulary at the time but now they sell them in pairs so just shop arround, if you do them yourself read the past posts as it can be tricky as you need a 35mm socket

[Hunter]

I don't own an AU but I am curious, and this may sound like a dumb question - but are the front wheel bearings for AUs a sealed unit or something?

EDIT: NM, I found out for myself on the guide.... damn that sucks having to replace the entire hub! Makes me feel better that all I have to replace is the inner/outer bearings on my EL .

[JC]

Just bought 2 more for the XR from Ozeparts.com.au - $80.30 each, plus $9 postage - total bill = $169.60. Bargain.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by JC

Just bought 2 more for the XR from Ozeparts.com.au - $80.30 each, plus $9 postage - total bill = $169.60. Bargain.

Can't complain about that!

I must admit that having a locally made car takes a lot of the the pain out of spares/repairs. This is the first Ford or Holden I've owned in a lot of years and the variety and low prices of many of the bits still surprises me.

[JC]

Originally Posted by ronwest

Can't complain about that!

I must admit that having a locally made car takes a lot of the the pain out of spares/repairs. This is the first Ford or Holden I've owned in a lot of years and the variety and low prices of many of the bits still surprises me.

Fitted today. 35mm socket is cheaper than 1 3/8" socket (about half price) - got mine for $12.50 from Fisher discounts in 1/2" drive. Changed the hubs as part of upgrading t AU2 front end, though it was the noisy bearings that instigated it all.

Anyway, long story short, it was the right front wheel bearing that was shot; left one was quiet as a mouse when we removed the wheel and spun the hub, right made a whirring noise like a helicopter in silent mode.

So out of changing the hubs on the wagon and the XR8, I now have 2 serviceable spares that will do whichever car's bearings go first next time.

Thanks for the "How to" Ronwest, it made the whole job of doing the bearings easy!

[GK]

Originally Posted by JC

Thanks for the "How to" Ronwest, it made the whole job of doing the bearings easy!

That is indeed a very good tutorial! Nice job!

GK

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by GK

That is indeed a very good tutorial! Nice job!

GK

Thanks guys... good to see it's of some use.

[EvilChief]

before u fall back wards, jack the car up so the tyre comes of the ground, grab top and bottom of wheel and wiggle it carefully, if u hear a knocking noise or u can move more than a mm up and down it will indicate wheel bearings. grab the wheel left and right and rock it both ways, if it then knocks it will indicate steering components.

[Mechan1k]

Hmmm ... looks like it is time to order some in ... I might just do both front ones ... just for the hell of it ... at least I know both will be new ... and done at the same time.

[blackers10]

could you do a rear bearing one next ronwest?? or is it just a case of taking it to the shop and getting them to press the bugger out?
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