what does a degraded wheel bearing sound like?

[nzlpablo]

My GT Apex Levin has developed a sort of rubbing noise coming from the front driver side wheel/hub. It gets louder above 50km and worse after taking a "spirited" corner. Just wondering if it could be a bearing on it's way out?

[nzlpablo]

To add: nothing is actually rubbing on the wheel/tyre, and I can feel the vibration coming through the chassis. It's almost feels like a wheel nut is loose.

[Lloyd]

Rumbling noise is about the best description. Generally if you load the wheel up when driving (turning to put vehicle weight on the wheel) then you'll notice a change in noise, louder when the stuffed one is loaded up, quiet when it's not.

Or jack the front of the car up so both wheels are off the ground. Put your fingers on the suspension spring and spin a wheel. If it's stuffed then you'll feel it through the spring/spring seat. If it's really stuffed then you'll hear it too. Check both sides.

[nzlpablo]

Awesome, thanks, yeah it does sound like rumbling and it does sound different between left and right turns. I'll jack it up and check it out some more.

[MrOizo]

In the Supra, i would swerve left, right, left, right and the noise would go loud, quiet, loud, quiet.

With the wheel in the air, can you get any movement side-to-side in either vertical or horizontal directions?

Also, check that the nut on the end of the axle isn't loose - can be forgotten/overlooked when reassembling after doing something like clutch.

[nzlpablo]

In the Supra, i would swerve left, right, left, right and the noise would go loud, quiet, loud, quiet.

With the wheel in the air, can you get any movement side-to-side in either vertical or horizontal directions?

Also, check that the nut on the end of the axle isn't loose - can be forgotten/overlooked when reassembling after doing something like clutch.

I'll check that out.

Also gonna investigate the driveshaft bearing. The wheel bearings have done less than 10,000km, so I'd be surprised if one's gone already.

[pc]

I usually check front drive bearings by taking the hub nut off and wiggling the wheel around. Sometimes the bearings can be worn but not easy to feel with the hub nut done up tight.
If the bearing has gone after 10,000km the hub nut may not have been tight enough.

[Lloyd]

Why would you take the hub nut off and wiggle it? That's the only thing actually holding the 2 inner races together and stopping play in most cases. Almost any FWD that you take a hub nut off will have play.

[85AW20v]

Could also be the drive flange that goes through the bearing is worn .

[pc]

Why would you take the hub nut off and wiggle it? That's the only thing actually holding the 2 inner races together and stopping play in most cases. Almost any FWD that you take a hub nut off will have play.

Not in my experience, note i'm only wiggling it by hand, not with any weight on it or with a bar etc.

[nzlpablo]

Got it up on a hoist yesterday. Is definitely the wheel bearing, could feel it grinding when the wheel was spinning

[Crucible]

Why would you take the hub nut off and wiggle it? That's the only thing actually holding the 2 inner races together and stopping play in most cases. Almost any FWD that you take a hub nut off will have play.

Not in my experience, note i'm only wiggling it by hand, not with any weight on it or with a bar etc.

But the cv nut holds the inner races together and holds the flange in place, you will always have play as there is nothing to keep it intact. If you were to leave the cv nut off and drive down the road the wheel would fall off.

[pc]

But the cv nut holds the inner races together and holds the flange in place, you will always have play as there is nothing to keep it intact. If you were to leave the cv nut off and drive down the road the wheel would fall off.

Yes the CV nut is required to hold the bearing together while driving around, but there shouldn't be any play with a new pressed in bearing, and there shouldn't be any noticeable play when testing a bearing in good condition by hand.
Here are some pictures http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/269

Maybe you are talking about front wheel bearings on an old rear drive car?

[Lloyd]

No, we're all talking about front bearings in a FWD.

[pc]

No, we're all talking about front bearings in a FWD.

...So when you install a brand new bearing in a front drive you can feel play in it before you put the hub nut on?

[Lloyd]

Generally when they're brand new you don't really need to check them for wear

[85AW20v]

No, we're all talking about front bearings in a FWD.

...So when you install a brand new bearing in a front drive you can feel play in it before you put the hub nut on?

You may do as the bearings don't get pulled together properly until you torque up the hub nut - which is 138ft/lbs in the case of an AW11.

[pc]

Oh well, I figure if the hub fits properly and has been pressed in without damage, then the bearing will be held together by the friction of the pressed in hub... so if there is play after install, the hub may need replacing.
If there is play after use, then either the bearing is worn, or the hub is loose in the bearing race, or the bearing is loose in the knuckle.

Either way... If there is play without the hub nut done up, then something needs replacing.

[Crucible]

Im trying to get the gist of what you are saying but not exactely sure what you mean? When you say hub are you talking about the flange?

The thing is, when you pull a hub assembly apart you can visually see the wear on the flange shaft that presses into the two inner races, it is quite obvious, so you wouldnt refit it anyway. I dont get where you get the idea of checking a hub bearing by leaving the nut loose. You just dont check it that way, period.

If I find wheel bearing play on a wof 1st thing I do is tighten it with a rattle gun then spin it and check for noise through the spring, hopefully its ok and I save the customer some money but you dont undo the cv nut, it will always show more movement, always.

[Lloyd]

Either way... If there is play without the hub nut done up, then something needs replacing.

Or tightened up.