Grinding noise from left front wheel area
Apr 16, 2008, 04:18 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Montreal
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Grinding noise from left front wheel area
I started getting a faint noise coming from the front right side of the car which has now become a full out grinding noise...
It's most prominent between 50 and 60km/h (~35-40mph), and above 100km/h (60mph). It barely increases when taking turns... but changes frequency when moving the wheel slightly to the left....
I lifted the car up and ran it.
Only the left front wheel spins, the right stays still...
I've already had the left front bearing changed 3 times and the right hand one once.... hoping it's not the diff....
Opinions?
It's most prominent between 50 and 60km/h (~35-40mph), and above 100km/h (60mph). It barely increases when taking turns... but changes frequency when moving the wheel slightly to the left....
I lifted the car up and ran it.
Only the left front wheel spins, the right stays still...
I've already had the left front bearing changed 3 times and the right hand one once.... hoping it's not the diff....
Opinions?
Apr 21, 2008, 05:09 PM
#4
Evolving Member
Most people's wheel bearings outlast the car. You're doing something wrong that's causing them to fail. Has the offset of your wheels been modified in any way?
Apr 22, 2008, 02:00 PM
#5
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Montreal
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my car was stock until last summer... i've put new wheels on that increased the offset, but the bearings have been breaking since way before.. this is actually the first time a bearing goes with these wheels... and this one seemed to last a while longer than the others (the mechanic put EXTRA grease on it lol)
one of the mechanics told me that a big part of that is the fact that the bearings are open to elements (reason for the extra grease)
this combined with all the abrasive and salt they dump on our roads, and 6 months of harsh winter makes them vulnerable
add to that the fact that our roads are worse than most roads in baghdad...
and the fact that most off ramps are right handers and i have a tendency to give my tires a workout on those... (hence the left front bearing going 4 times)
bring most people's cars here, and within a year they'll go throught at least one bearing, they'll rip apart at least one tire, bend at least one rim and drastically reduce the lifetime of their suspension.....
one of the mechanics told me that a big part of that is the fact that the bearings are open to elements (reason for the extra grease)
this combined with all the abrasive and salt they dump on our roads, and 6 months of harsh winter makes them vulnerable
add to that the fact that our roads are worse than most roads in baghdad...
and the fact that most off ramps are right handers and i have a tendency to give my tires a workout on those... (hence the left front bearing going 4 times)
bring most people's cars here, and within a year they'll go throught at least one bearing, they'll rip apart at least one tire, bend at least one rim and drastically reduce the lifetime of their suspension.....
Last edited by Rancidx; Apr 22, 2008 at 02:02 PM.
Apr 22, 2008, 05:17 PM
#7
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kingston, ON
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hum, I'm sorry but there is something wrong with your car.
I live in Québec city where the conditions are the same or worst than those in Montreal. That being said in five years I've never had to change a wheel bearing on my car and I check their wear with a micrometer every time I switch from winter to summer tires and vice versa. (Wheel bearing end play check: 0.05mm)
And don't worry, I drive the car hard enough.
Is the car lowered? When was the last time you had an alignement?
How bad is the difference between your offset and stock?
I live in Québec city where the conditions are the same or worst than those in Montreal. That being said in five years I've never had to change a wheel bearing on my car and I check their wear with a micrometer every time I switch from winter to summer tires and vice versa. (Wheel bearing end play check: 0.05mm)
And don't worry, I drive the car hard enough.
Is the car lowered? When was the last time you had an alignement?
How bad is the difference between your offset and stock?
Trending Topics
Apr 23, 2008, 02:59 PM
#8
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Montreal
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i've had it aligned a few times (plus each time tie-rods and calipers were changed), it was off only last time, when i damaged a tire this winter (our glorious potholes at work)
the offset might be about 1cm difference.. not sure, the wheels are almost flush with the top outside of the wheel well.. but like i said, i went throught 4 bearings before getting those wheels so the problem is not there... completely stock otherwise
also went throught 2 inner tie rods, one on each side
i've hit another monster pothole today....luckily no damage...yet...
any other theories?
the offset might be about 1cm difference.. not sure, the wheels are almost flush with the top outside of the wheel well.. but like i said, i went throught 4 bearings before getting those wheels so the problem is not there... completely stock otherwise
also went throught 2 inner tie rods, one on each side
i've hit another monster pothole today....luckily no damage...yet...
any other theories?
Apr 25, 2008, 02:33 PM
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Montreal
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Apr 26, 2008, 12:31 PM
#12
Evolving Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: The North
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
maybe he replaced the back? I know the fronts are sealed. The rear(drum brakes) look like they are tappered type and arnt sealed? havent taken them apart yet, but if its anything like the ford focus, the rear are not sealed bearings,
