I need new wheel bearings at 15k???

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Nov 5, 2010 | 09:58 PM
  #1  
My daily driver is a 2009 G37s 6MT coupe. I am lowered on Eibach springs and ride on Hankook Ventus 245/40-19 tires mounted on 19” Forgestar F-14’s. After the Eibachs were installed, I had an alignment done at the Infiniti dealer. I currently have only about 15,000 miles on the car.

I recently moved for a job, and now drive about 70 miles each way (mostly highway) to work, where it was about 25 miles before the move. The extra miles I now drive might be why I am having this issue sooner rather than later.

A couple of days ago, I noticed a vibration coming from my front driver’s side wheel. It is constantly there, but increases frequency as my speed increases. It almost sounds like the tire is rubbing something with every rotation. It is more noticeable at lower speeds. I made sure to check my tire pressure, thinking that could cause the problem, but it was fine. I took it to a performance auto shop near where I work today to see what they thought.

The mechanic thought it was something with my tire wear at first, so he did a rotation to see if that would fix the problem. After a second test drive, the vibration was still there. He stated that I had negative camber on my front wheels, and this could be causing wear and tear on my wheel bearings. He thought my driver's side front wheel bearing was starting to wear and I should have both front wheel bearings replaced.

I know with being lowered, I will never have a perfect alignment, but after only 15,000 miles, should I have to be replacing wheel bearings?

Any helpful input is appreciated!

Thanks!

Shelley
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Nov 5, 2010 | 10:57 PM
  #2  
Quote: A couple of days ago, I noticed a vibration coming from my front driver’s side wheel. It is constantly there, but increases frequency as my speed increases. It almost sounds like the tire is rubbing something with every rotation. It is more noticeable at lower speeds. I made sure to check my tire pressure, thinking that could cause the problem, but it was fine. I took it to a performance auto shop near where I work today to see what they thought.

The mechanic thought it was something with my tire wear at first, so he did a rotation to see if that would fix the problem. After a second test drive, the vibration was still there. He stated that I had negative camber on my front wheels, and this could be causing wear and tear on my wheel bearings. He thought my driver's side front wheel bearing was starting to wear and I should have both front wheel bearings replaced.

I know with being lowered, I will never have a perfect alignment, but after only 15,000 miles, should I have to be replacing wheel bearings?

Any helpful input is appreciated!

Thanks!

Shelley
Wheels balanced? Any metal screeching noise? How reputable would you say your mechanic is? How knowledgeable is he/she in terms of aftermarket parts?

Jack up your car and move your wheels back and forth to see if there is any play.
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Nov 6, 2010 | 12:03 AM
  #3  
thats not normal for a bearing to go out unless you've hit something.....or drive an X lol.
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Nov 6, 2010 | 01:04 AM
  #4  
Due to your car is lowered and you are running after market wheels with different size, offsets compare to OEM wheels, that's the reason why your wheels bearing worn out. But at 15k, that is not right. Have you jacked up your car and check wheels for plays to make sure it is wheel bearings. If it is wheel bearings, I would say replace them, they are not expensive.
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Nov 6, 2010 | 01:36 AM
  #5  
one big bump can cause the bearings to go bad
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Nov 6, 2010 | 01:54 AM
  #6  
Meh! Sounds fishy, take it to the dealership!
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Nov 6, 2010 | 10:07 AM
  #7  
I replaced both of my front hubs on my 05 coupe with lowering springs and 19inch wheels. At 45,000 miles
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Nov 6, 2010 | 05:34 PM
  #8  
im ay 65k slammed on 20s with no problems
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Nov 6, 2010 | 05:45 PM
  #9  
60k/ Eibach / 20's No issues.
1. put your stock wheels on (if you still have them) and see if you have the same issue
4. Have the tires rebalanced
2. Check to see if you have any inner wear on the tires
3. Look for play in the hub bearing
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Nov 6, 2010 | 06:02 PM
  #10  
That sucks good luck getting it fixed..
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Nov 6, 2010 | 06:11 PM
  #11  
if its making a humming, roaring, whirring noise that increases then its a wheel bearing. tire noises are more pronounced and have a louder rotational noise...lol hard to describe without making noises. lift the car in the air. use a stethascope for noises on cars.....itll have a long metal prong that you touch whatever it is to hear for any abnormal noises. touch the backside of the bearing as you spin the wheel. if you hear a metallic crunching, or the humming.....wheel bearing. end of story. lol
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Nov 6, 2010 | 08:07 PM
  #12  
one of my wheel bearings went out around 25k miles on my 05 G coupe... so its not impossible
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Nov 6, 2010 | 08:22 PM
  #13  
i see.... Must be hit or miss with different cars.. I looks though that it is affecting 2005's
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Nov 6, 2010 | 08:30 PM
  #14  
didnt say impossible. just not common. the most common cars for wheel bearings to go bad in are the g35x or fx35 awd....and its normaly the fronts. on ocassion you'll have a coupe with a bad wheel bearing but its normally been the rears. lol its weird with these cars. the ONLY car ive changed a front wheel bearing on that was new....was a 08 g37s coupe and it was cuz the customer scrubbed a curb.
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Nov 6, 2010 | 09:32 PM
  #15  
Quote: Wheels balanced? Any metal screeching noise? How reputable would you say your mechanic is? How knowledgeable is he/she in terms of aftermarket parts?

Jack up your car and move your wheels back and forth to see if there is any play.
I had the wheels balanced when I first put them on a little less than a year ago, and they are my summer wheels. I ran on winters for a few months. I don't notice any metal screeching noices, just the rotational noise/vibration in the front driver's side wheel. Since I am new to this area, I just went to a shop that was close by. He seemed knowledgable, and said he had 15 years experience.

Quote: one big bump can cause the bearings to go bad
I’ve gone over train tracks several times going a little too fast, but other than that, I haven’t hit anything.

Quote: 60k/ Eibach / 20's No issues.
1. put your stock wheels on (if you still have them) and see if you have the same issue
4. Have the tires rebalanced
2. Check to see if you have any inner wear on the tires
3. Look for play in the hub bearing
I don’t have the stocks anymore When I took it to the shop on Friday, the mechanic did notice wear on the inner side of the tires, which is why he did the rotation. He also had it up and was feeling the wheels for play, which there was none.

Quote: if its making a humming, roaring, whirring noise that increases then its a wheel bearing. tire noises are more pronounced and have a louder rotational noise...lol hard to describe without making noises. lift the car in the air. use a stethascope for noises on cars.....itll have a long metal prong that you touch whatever it is to hear for any abnormal noises. touch the backside of the bearing as you spin the wheel. if you hear a metallic crunching, or the humming.....wheel bearing. end of story. lol
From your description, this sounds like the problem, but I am taking it to the dealer on Tuesday (first available appointment) to have it checked out. I am hoping if it’s the wheel bearings, they are covered under warranty, even though they are not that much money. In the meantime, I still have to commute to work (the 70 miles each way) on Monday. I hope this won’t hurt anything worse
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