Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Brake rotor, pad, or hub bearing problem (or some combo of the three)?

slownugly · 03-23-2013, 12:43 PM

Yea several bearing noises at the same time are tough to nail down.
After the clutch is done and you drive it, if it has the symptoms that I described ( gets louder or quieter if you turn the wheel slightly in either direction at higher speeds) then to figure out what side it is do the following. This can apply to most any car or suspension type on the road today.

1. Jack front of vehicle up so both wheels are off te ground
2. Start at drivers side and put one hand on the coil spring. With the other spin the wheel FORWARD.
3. Use your hand on the spring to feel for vibration while making sure not to touch the wheel while spinning so it doesn't cause a false vibration. - might be easier to put the car in neutral.
4. Do the same to the passenger side. Whichever one has the noticeable rumbling is the bad one.

The nature of the spring allows it to show the bearing rumble like a magnifying glass as compared to grabbing the spindle or strut. This works on 95% of vehicle out there. On a vehicle with torsion bar suspension it easy. The torsion bar is the spring in the suspension so grab the torsion bar. Sometime on very minute ones it's hard to feel I close my eyes to take one sense out of the procedure and allows me to concentrate on my feeling in my hands. Or get my dad to spin the wheel an close my eyes.

03-23-2013, 12:43 PM	#48 (permalink)
slownugly Burn lean and prosper\\// Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: scranton pa Posts: 576 VLX - '93 Honda Civic VLX Team Honda 90 day: 51.1 mpg (US) Thanks: 55 Thanked 65 Times in 54 Posts	Yea several bearing noises at the same time are tough to nail down. After the clutch is done and you drive it, if it has the symptoms that I described ( gets louder or quieter if you turn the wheel slightly in either direction at higher speeds) then to figure out what side it is do the following. This can apply to most any car or suspension type on the road today. 1. Jack front of vehicle up so both wheels are off te ground 2. Start at drivers side and put one hand on the coil spring. With the other spin the wheel FORWARD. 3. Use your hand on the spring to feel for vibration while making sure not to touch the wheel while spinning so it doesn't cause a false vibration. - might be easier to put the car in neutral. 4. Do the same to the passenger side. Whichever one has the noticeable rumbling is the bad one. The nature of the spring allows it to show the bearing rumble like a magnifying glass as compared to grabbing the spindle or strut. This works on 95% of vehicle out there. On a vehicle with torsion bar suspension it easy. The torsion bar is the spring in the suspension so grab the torsion bar. Sometime on very minute ones it's hard to feel I close my eyes to take one sense out of the procedure and allows me to concentrate on my feeling in my hands. Or get my dad to spin the wheel an close my eyes.