what are symptoms of knackered wheel bearing?

[drmick]

Hi All

gave someone a lift the other day and he said "sounds like you've got a wheel bearing rubbing" as he could hear a sound. I have noticed lots more 'road noise' than normal but tyres are fine so this could be the noise - but my car makes so many non-descript noises its hard to tell whats new or different. So are there any other symptoms I should look for when driving? And then the obvious question how much will I get charged to have it replaced? Car is a MY05 Vector auto estate, and is starting to cost me an arm and a leg (lucky its automatic so can get by with only one arm and one leg....)

Thanks

Michael

[jmblack]

A hum that turns into a howl - related to road by engine speed.

[Griffin Dave]

I paid £245 including VAT to have front wheel bearings replaced on my MY01 Griffin.

[jmblack]

Typo - meant road not engine speed...

I recently paid a little over £100plus vat for one side

[phoenix]

Symptoms? A rapid feeling of funds being depleted...

- Noise as suggested that becomes worse when cornering. If it gets worse on a LH bend, it's the RH bearing and vice versa
- the wheel being warmer to the touch than others
- excess play if you jack the car up and grab the wheel at 12- and 3-9 and try rocking it.

[Audax]

It's worth pointing out that rear tyres getting worn down and scalloped due to the 9-5 rear suspension being a bit rubbish will make a sound very much like a front wheel bearing on the way out. Check your tyres first for uneven wear (also some tyre brands are much worse than others, some Avon tyres when new can make odd noises among others) and get a second opinion from a friendly specialist or dealer before spending a huge pile of cash on wheel bearings.

[drmick]

was hoping to jack up car and play with wheels but didn't get a chance today. Will try and see if any movement during week as should be able to jack up the car at work probably on tuesday morning. Fairly sure rear tyres are fine as they were new about 3000 miles ago. Front tyres are much older but still have lots of tread on them. Most noise seems to be road surface related as on some bits of road car is nice and quiet.

I need to get new rear brakes at some point soon so will get the garage to have a look at wheel bearings as well and give their advice, first up though is gearbox valve body which is at the end of this month.

Noticed that the three most recents threads yesterday were all started by me, suggests my little car is falling apart (although two of the threads are related)

[phil-saab]

If i remember correctly 2002/facelift cars have to have the hole hub changed on the front where as older ones like the MY 2001 i had we just pressed in new bearings, right mare of a job though.

[AeroDel]

If i remember correctly 2002/facelift cars have to have the hole hub changed on the front where as older ones like the MY 2001 i had we just pressed in new bearings, right mare of a job though.

And a lot more expensive to replace too.

[McSaab]

Hi

From MY2002 on, the front bearings are integrated into a removable hub. Whilst this makes replacement easier than the earlier model, the cost of the part is several fold more.
I have had 2 failures in the last 6 months. The first made the car sound like a landrover defender with a speed-dependent whirring noticeable at speeds up to about 60mph. On removal, the bearing was extremely rough, but this was undetectable on the car. There was no play, and change of direction did nothing to the sound.

The second, using a major aftermarket supplier for replacement of the first, was quiet, but had approx 3mm of play at the wheel. Smooth once removed.

With a car on the drive, waiting for arrival of a genuine part after a cheaper version lasted 6months, I strongly recommend buying as good as you can afford. If not genuine, then a bearing mfr of repute. When costing, bear in mind the aftermarkets come with the 3 stretch bolts and a new hub nut, which the genuine part does not - an extra £25 or so.

The only way I diagnosed the first failure was with a mechanic friend of 20yrs+ experience.....

good luck
M

[Audax]

Personally I'd trust a second hand genuine Saab bearing to be better than a new non-genuine one, most likely significantly cheaper too.

[39buss]

This is a 15" Bridgestone tyre on a steel rim that makes a noise very similar to a nackered wheel bearing. The tread block is worn unevenly and the tyre across its width is anything but flat. I now have my 16" alloys back on and its nice and quiet. Both Bridgestones were on the back. Firestones on the front were worn evenly.As Quino says check your tyres first.

[sgould]

When my car started making the noise.  The rear tyres were worn.  But I was on my way to southern Spain.  So 4,000 miles later, they looked like this.....

[AeroDel]

Those tyres look terrible!

Think I'm gonna need to get a look at my offside rear tyre. I'm pretty sure it's slightly more worn on the outside edge. I'm getting a noise that sounds like knackered wheel bearing between about 50-60mph.

Looking to replace 3 tyres sometime soon. (changed my nearside rear a few months ago due to previous owner running the tyre while flat). Hopefully that'll sort it out.

[sgould]

Rear tyre wear that generates the noise is always on the inside.