Bad wheel bearing? Opinions please! (Video+Audio)
#16
I haven't had read all of the replies so sorry if I'm just repeating what someone else is writing. But I recently had a rear wheel bearing issue that I'd like to share. It started out as a bearing issue and turned into something else, so bear with me (no pun intended). I don't know what your exact issue is, but I'll offer some insight on whether its a bearing issue or not.
I first discovered the bearing issue when I brought my car to the shop recently for something else. I too have a noise coming out of the rear tire when the thing is rotating. But I didn't go to the shop for that reason. I've been driving with it for a while thinking its just a lube/grease problem. The mechanic noticed that the wheel, rotor, hub (the whole assy) wobbled when he lifted the car as the wheel sort of dropped as soon as it lifted off the ground. Meaning you can pivot it along the center. He showed me by wiggling the wheel. The mechanic says that he's 99% sure a wobbling wheel assy is a bearing/hub issue. As I was reading your post, I didn't see you describe this wobble action. So if I were you, I'd jack your car up on each wheel, and see if you can wobble it up/down. If you can't, then it's likely isn't a bearing/hub issue.
I brought my car to a friend of mine who is also a mechanic and he confirmed that its likely bearing issue. So we ordered the part and proceed to replace it in his shop. HOWEVER, while replacing the bearing, we discovered a more likely cause of the wheel wobble. We found that the large axel nut had backed out, and no longer torqued and tight to the rotor. You could actually turn it with your finger (thank goodness for the cotter pin). We went ahead and replaced the bearing anyways, and retorqued the axel nut. We concluded that the old bearing is probably not bad and that the axel nut was the likely cause of the wobble. That was last month. Last week, I noticed that the ride quality has changed and felt like it was before I replaced the bearing and torqued the axel nut. So I jacked the car up and wiggled the wheel and found that it was wobbling again. I found that the axel nut had backed out again. So I retorqued it and applied loc tite. No more wobble. Now if it backs out again, I'll probably replace the nut.
Long story short, I want to say that 1) unless you can wobble your wheel when its jacked up, then its likely not a bearing issue. And 2) if you found that it wobbles, check and torque your axel nut as that might solve the problem.
I first discovered the bearing issue when I brought my car to the shop recently for something else. I too have a noise coming out of the rear tire when the thing is rotating. But I didn't go to the shop for that reason. I've been driving with it for a while thinking its just a lube/grease problem. The mechanic noticed that the wheel, rotor, hub (the whole assy) wobbled when he lifted the car as the wheel sort of dropped as soon as it lifted off the ground. Meaning you can pivot it along the center. He showed me by wiggling the wheel. The mechanic says that he's 99% sure a wobbling wheel assy is a bearing/hub issue. As I was reading your post, I didn't see you describe this wobble action. So if I were you, I'd jack your car up on each wheel, and see if you can wobble it up/down. If you can't, then it's likely isn't a bearing/hub issue.
I brought my car to a friend of mine who is also a mechanic and he confirmed that its likely bearing issue. So we ordered the part and proceed to replace it in his shop. HOWEVER, while replacing the bearing, we discovered a more likely cause of the wheel wobble. We found that the large axel nut had backed out, and no longer torqued and tight to the rotor. You could actually turn it with your finger (thank goodness for the cotter pin). We went ahead and replaced the bearing anyways, and retorqued the axel nut. We concluded that the old bearing is probably not bad and that the axel nut was the likely cause of the wobble. That was last month. Last week, I noticed that the ride quality has changed and felt like it was before I replaced the bearing and torqued the axel nut. So I jacked the car up and wiggled the wheel and found that it was wobbling again. I found that the axel nut had backed out again. So I retorqued it and applied loc tite. No more wobble. Now if it backs out again, I'll probably replace the nut.
Long story short, I want to say that 1) unless you can wobble your wheel when its jacked up, then its likely not a bearing issue. And 2) if you found that it wobbles, check and torque your axel nut as that might solve the problem.
#17
#18
Thanks for the input.
#19
Mine was a bad bearing, even though it did not have any play in it. I believe with the sealed design of these bearings, having play in them is not as likely as with some other wheel bearing setups. I replaced it already, and when you turn the old bearing in your hands, you can hear the noise, though you might not notice it if you weren't in a quiet space with it near your ear. It almost sounds like what you might expect to hear if the bearing was brand new and assembled without grease.. just a slight sound of metal rolling along another metal surface.
The sound is definitely not loud enough to hear when on the car, as even the sound of the other mechanical components (CV joints in the axle shaft and the differential) are actually more noticeable than the sound of my bearing. But when it was on the car and rolling down the road, the hum/groan was still very significant!
It's also definitely more apparent when you compare it side-by-side with a new bearing.
The sound is definitely not loud enough to hear when on the car, as even the sound of the other mechanical components (CV joints in the axle shaft and the differential) are actually more noticeable than the sound of my bearing. But when it was on the car and rolling down the road, the hum/groan was still very significant!
It's also definitely more apparent when you compare it side-by-side with a new bearing.
#20
Does the humming of the bearing sound like a motorcycle?
I've been noticing that there is a quiet, but still quite noticeable droning sound coming from the after-half of my drivetrain. It's speed dependant, but not RPM dependant and happens in any gear. I'd liken the sound to a very throaty motorcycle, like a big Ducati, following from a few car-lengths behind me.
Also, occasionally while coming down in speed (50kph -> 20kph) the vibration and noise becomes much more pronounced. The shifter will shake very noticeably in my hand as well. It's very difficult to replicate when I want to make it happen, but seems to happily do it when I'm not focusing on it (which is more annoying than the noise and vibration itself).
I checked the rear wheels for wobbling or play and found none, but this post has me concerned as it appears that a damaged wheel bearing may not have play. Could it also be a differential or driveshaft problem? I'm going to be pulling a diff oil sample for Blackstone Labs regardless. If I find anything interesting I'll try make sure to post the results here.
Cheers!
Also, occasionally while coming down in speed (50kph -> 20kph) the vibration and noise becomes much more pronounced. The shifter will shake very noticeably in my hand as well. It's very difficult to replicate when I want to make it happen, but seems to happily do it when I'm not focusing on it (which is more annoying than the noise and vibration itself).
I checked the rear wheels for wobbling or play and found none, but this post has me concerned as it appears that a damaged wheel bearing may not have play. Could it also be a differential or driveshaft problem? I'm going to be pulling a diff oil sample for Blackstone Labs regardless. If I find anything interesting I'll try make sure to post the results here.
Cheers!
#21
#22
Premier Member
iTrader: (11)
Just scanned this whole post, I think it's time to replace my rear wheel bearings. I had a loud rumble noise that I thought was bad tires since it changed "tone" over different pavement surfaces. Got new tires and the sound went way down, however I'm still getting a drone noise. My wife drove my car recently and made a comment that my car sounded like an old prop-plane was flying overhead, guess I was just getting used to the noise.
I like the idea that someone suggested above and picking up a knuckle to replace parts on my bench.
If that doesn't fix the noise, my other ideas for culprits are the driveshaft center bearing and then possibly bearings in the diff itself. Probably just bearings though. Car has 197k miles on it, plus I've already changed 3 bearings on our Armada, so maybe Nissan just has bad bearings on vehicles from this era.
I like the idea that someone suggested above and picking up a knuckle to replace parts on my bench.
If that doesn't fix the noise, my other ideas for culprits are the driveshaft center bearing and then possibly bearings in the diff itself. Probably just bearings though. Car has 197k miles on it, plus I've already changed 3 bearings on our Armada, so maybe Nissan just has bad bearings on vehicles from this era.
#23
Rear bearings and hubs
I'm used to talking to myself at home when my kids and wife are zombified by electronics in front of their faces, but it's still weird to see 1100 views and no one wants to chime in with anything..?
Anyone know of a good place to find the rear hub assembly? I can find the bearing (and I keep reading Timken is the way to go) everywhere, including RockAuto. I can't seem to find the hub anywhere but eBay. On eBay, there are plenty of listings that appear to be both the hub and bearing, and some even appear to have the bearing pre-seated (one seller has two listings that look to have the same parts, but one is $20 more, and pictures seem to show assembled vs separate).
The problem is, the listings for the hub assemblies all seem to come with bearings, and I haven't found any that come with bearings from a reputable brand. They all just have "Aftermarket like OE brand" for the brand. It may very well be a Timken (or NTN) or even just another brand that would be of perfectly fine quality, but that's an unknown I'm not comfortable with.
I'd rather buy the bearing knowing it should be a quality part, and buy the hub also, then deal with getting it pressed in once I have it. Suggestions on finding a (quality) hub??
Anyone know of a good place to find the rear hub assembly? I can find the bearing (and I keep reading Timken is the way to go) everywhere, including RockAuto. I can't seem to find the hub anywhere but eBay. On eBay, there are plenty of listings that appear to be both the hub and bearing, and some even appear to have the bearing pre-seated (one seller has two listings that look to have the same parts, but one is $20 more, and pictures seem to show assembled vs separate).
The problem is, the listings for the hub assemblies all seem to come with bearings, and I haven't found any that come with bearings from a reputable brand. They all just have "Aftermarket like OE brand" for the brand. It may very well be a Timken (or NTN) or even just another brand that would be of perfectly fine quality, but that's an unknown I'm not comfortable with.
I'd rather buy the bearing knowing it should be a quality part, and buy the hub also, then deal with getting it pressed in once I have it. Suggestions on finding a (quality) hub??
Check your our brake rotors. If they are warped they will produce noise and they are super easy to replace. Just make sure you hook up the pads correctly.
I also had diferential fail on me. Bought a used one with less miles than mine for a hundred dollars on eBay. I put white line Polly bushings in to help stiffen it up. So far so good. The did will likely "clunk" when put in gear or switch into reverse from drive or neutral.
#24
Definitely do not pay a shop to do this repair. Our cars use a wheel bearing assembly and do not require you to push out the old bearing. Go down to your local autozone and pick up a wheel bearing for $150 and find a video online. I did both my rear wheel bearing assembly's and it probably took 3 hours total.
#25
Definitely do not pay a shop to do this repair. Our cars use a wheel bearing assembly and do not require you to push out the old bearing. Go down to your local autozone and pick up a wheel bearing for $150 and find a video online. I did both my rear wheel bearing assembly's and it probably took 3 hours total.
#27
well damn I've been looking for something like that just could never find it lol. Who sells them?
#28
I drove ttrank's car solo
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G35 sedan w/ too much money in mods
#29
got it. Definitely willing to spend the extra going that route instead of doing the press ins!
#30
Premier Member
iTrader: (11)
FEBEST 0282-T30R Rear Wheel Hub Link: http://a.co/1eOQumh
Combined with a Timken BM500006 bearing should be golden. Approx $70 for both parts is a good deal.
No idea what brand bearing those combo kits on eBay are using, and cost twice as much.
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Blue Dream (03-06-2017)