Ball joints /bearings - good for 80k miles?

[welshwizard]

Got a noise coming from the rear  - thought it was tyres at wrong pressures but it seems to be constant noise regardless of speed/road surface....anything I should consider before calling the Saab servicing agent?

[sgould]

Is it the rear tyre wear problem?   Inside edge.  Hard to see on the car.

[welshwizard]

Cheers Will, dealer suspects the same problem (they have not seen the car) and does not think bearing are at fault (even if they were the cost of replacement is horrendous).

[Audax]

and does not think bearing are at fault (even if they were the cost of replacement is horrendous).

An allegedly "OE Quality" bearing from Neo Brothers is about £35, they're not that hard to have fitted either.

Even then, it's more likely to be tyres although it could be worn suspension bushes causing the tyre wear. What mileage and age is the car at and have any rear bushes ever been replaced?

[Neil of Stevenage]

Rear tyre scalloping/cupping normally exhibits itself as a noise similar to a front wheel bearing.

[welshwizard]

and does not think bearing are at fault (even if they were the cost of replacement is horrendous).

An allegedly "OE Quality" bearing from Neo Brothers is about £35, they're not that hard to have fitted either.

Even then, it's more likely to be tyres although it could be worn suspension bushes causing the tyre wear. What mileage and age is the car at and have any rear bushes ever been replaced?

DE is at 78k miles - it's a saloon and apart from mirror/mirror glass everything is original.  I am on All-Season tyres.  I am getting wheels rebalanced next week and tracking checked, while getting front and back swapped so that might temper the noise.  I guess if it was bearing the noise would become unbearable quite quickly

[welshwizard]

development, slight vibration coming from the front so took the car to ALS tyres in Warfield this lunchtime - front nearside was taken off  and the situation was a good deal worse than I suspected.  Inside of tyres, out of clean sight - CANVAS!  New tyre on order - will get balance checked and tracking tomorrow when I have a new Quadraxer fitted.

Lucky escape

[warmrain]

How did you get this wear on the front tyres?  The excessive inside edge wear usually occurs only on the rear tyres of the 9-5.

WR

[Neil of Stevenage]

......... while getting front and back swapped.....

As the man said..........

[warmrain]

But the man said ....
"..front nearside was taken off  and the situation was a good deal worse than I suspected"

So still unclear why the front insides were worn.  Front alignment toeing out by an incredible amount?

WR

[welshwizard]

Alignment was slightly out, I think the speed bumps I have to navigate daily exacerbated the problem - the wheel vibration appeared as I was driving home from the London Wetlands Centre and anyone who is familiar with the area should know about the speed humps on the approach road.....I think one devoured a fair chunk of rubber.

Alignment sorted.  damaged tyre being recycled.  rear tyres moved to front...

[welshwizard]

I ommitted to say, that the wear on the rear tyres was even.

[welshwizard]

Car is booked in to IanAllan next week, tyre noise yesterday was atrocious - maybe my hearing is sensitive but something isn't right..

[sgould]

I find the tyre noise on mine seems to change with the weather and temperature...

[welshwizard]

Verdict - uneven wear on tyres, seems that the Quadraxers deteriorate rapidly rather than wear and so would have needed 3 new tyres...So, to storage I go to fetch my summers...

Nothing wrong mechanically thankfully.