Changing wheel bearings

**njm** · 02-07-2008,05:28 PM

Hi all,

Im pretty sure my n/s wheel bearing has gone, suddenly started to whyne near the end of a 200 mile trip last week. The noise starts at around 35 and quitens at about 80, the noise does not seem to change as i turn left or right, it is constant in neutral, clutch in, clutch out and at different engine speeds, ive tried different tyres too with no luck. One problem is that when jacked up there is no noticable wheel wobble.

Anyway i splashed out and bought a bearing kit from GSF, the kit includes the bearing already inside a a metal plate with for bold holes (sorry dont know what its name is). Is this a simple and easy job of swaping out the part, or do I need any special tools to extract it??

Any advice would be greatly apprechiated as I have no experience in this task.

Thanks for reading.

**kenney** · 02-07-2008,05:56 PM

I dont think this is a job you want to start on, for a start of, you need a hydraulic press to remove and install the bearing.BUT i dont think the symptoms you describe are those of a faulty wheel bearing.A defekt bearing will not quieten when you reach 80.

**njm** · 02-07-2008,06:20 PM

Thanks for the reply!

Ok, even if the bearing is already in the 'plate'? What do you need the hydraulic press for?

Yeah im not at all sure its the bearing and im not certain the noise quitens at around 80 but it seemed to last nite, dont really want to be driving at that speed when i dont no if my wheels gona fall off anyway ;-).

Do you have any suggestions of what else it could be?

**kenney** · 02-07-2008,06:51 PM

Okay you have a bolted wheel bearing housing then you dont need the press,send your e-mail address and i will send you the info how to do it.I dont have any suggestions, what else it could be without hearing the noise,but a wheel bearing is constant,the faster you drive the more noise you get,and usually an increase in noise when cornering.

**njm** · 03-07-2008,10:02 AM

Thanks for all your help, my e-mail address is: njm503@york.ac.uk

**Vag-Alloys** · 03-07-2008,10:14 AM

Originally Posted by njm

Thanks for the reply!

Ok, even if the bearing is already in the 'plate'? What do you need the hydraulic press for?

Yeah im not at all sure its the bearing and im not certain the noise quitens at around 80 but it seemed to last nite, dont really want to be driving at that speed when i dont no if my wheels gona fall off anyway ;-).

Do you have any suggestions of what else it could be?

Swap your n/s wheel with the o/s wheel before you change the bearing.
If the noise shifts, you could have "heel and toe" un-even wear on the tyre causing it to humm. You can usually feel this wear by running your hand across the inside of the tyre (on the tread)
Make sure you have no steel cords hanging out, that hurts!!!

omegadirective · 03-07-2008,12:14 PM

It's better to change both wheel bearings at the same time. I had one replaced a little while ago and against my wishes the mech only replaced one, instead of two. I now have the second one to replace 2 months on...

I'd get them done ASAP, instead of leaving it. Mine got so bad it affected my MPG, not to mention giving me headaches everytime I drove for more than 10 mins.

**kenney** · 03-07-2008,01:44 PM

(It's better to change both wheel bearings at the same time)That is not necessary!Put it this way,when you are at the dentist,and he fills the one tooth,do you tell him to fill the one next to the one you have filled,just in case there might be a hole in it next month.

omegadirective · 03-07-2008,02:07 PM

Originally Posted by kenney

(It's better to change both wheel bearings at the same time)That is not necessary!Put it this way,when you are at the dentist,and he fills the one tooth,do you tell him to fill the one next to the one you have filled,just in case there might be a hole in it next month.

Well unless you live in a place with a lot of roundabouts or are constantly going left (or right) all the time and not the other way then you can assume an almost even wear.

Same would apply to your teeth...you eat consitantly and without giving preference to either site then you're likely to need to have both teeth filled at the same time.

Besides, if you get things replaced in pairs then you don't have to worry about doing it at a later date because you know you've already done it.

**kenney** · 03-07-2008,03:25 PM

In that case why not replace all the wheel bearings?,that would be a good idea an expensive one but, at least then you would have peace of mind knowing it had been done.