I want an “I’m not drunk! Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on March 18, 2019: It sounds like you may have either a CV joint clicking or a U-Joint making noise. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on September 09, 2019: I recommend you listen to the mechanic if they say it's unsafe, it's probably a good idea to replace it or ask if they can tighten the axle nut. Is this something they found on a routine oil change or something? Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on August 26, 2019: That sounds a little odd and not a common noise. I have an ongoing love affair with my VW Golf TDI. Water that penetrates a sealed bearing will also destroy it. It is amazingly fun to drive and the fuel economy is a wonderful added bonus. He called them "choppy". This is normally indicative of a bad caliper and/or a bad equalizer, … Question: Do you have to remove the brake pads and rotors to get to the wheel bearings? Let me know what you find, thanks. So now that you know how dangerous a faulty wheel bearing is, the question remains, what causes it? I only have about 76,000 miles on the car and my tires are about 8 months old and have been rotated and balanced 2 days ago. Is this reasonable? Let me know if you have more questions. Normal? The main purpose of wheel bearing is to allow the wheels to rotate with minimal friction. Also what is the actual type of grease to be added if necessary? He showed me where the wheel was loose and said it was bad. A loud constant whining or grinding noise when the vehicle is in motion. Here are tips to help you find the source of the problem: By Cschirp (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons (GFDL or CC BY 3.0). It's almost like softly rubbing on metal; light squeaking. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on December 27, 2018: Usually a wheel bearing is a steady noise that increases with vehicle speed not a rotating noise, what you might be hearing is uneven tire tread noise. Question: My car only has 12,000 miles on it. Question: I have a 2005 Honda Pilot and there is a humming sound coming from the rear of my car. Would this be a bad wheel bearing? Do think it’s okay to drive? However, when driving above 20 mph., any steering towards the right side results in a rumbling noise. Therefore, you may not be able to notice this right away. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on February 15, 2020: The noise you are hearing is most likely something moving around because it's not consistent. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on January 07, 2019: One wheel bearing per wheel/hub. Is it dangerous to drive at high speeds? Any ideas?? If they refuse to believe, then ask them "what is causing the noise?" Not sure where to start at for repairs to be most friendly toward our pockets as we will have to do everything in steps because we cannot afford to do it all at one time. Is this unusual? © 2021 CarTreatments.com. Anyhoo, the first wheel bearing went out, replaced and within six months I can hear the humming noise that started get louder with increased speed. It sounds like something is hitting the brake shield. I recommend taking off the wheel first to check out what has caused the wheel to lock up. Could these two be the reasons for this noise or is it something else? I noticed today it stops the noise when I press on the break. I hope this article helped you. So, it’s difficult to make a diagnosis based on noise alone. You'd be surprised what you find out. When im driving and put the car in neutral and let if roll anywhere over 15 mph or in between shift it squeaks. Snapping or clicking noises. What is the year make and model of the vehicle? "Grinding noise" you are hearing more than likely was not a wheel bearing.but from your breaks.You wasted money on a repair not needed. Well, one can never predict the bad wheel bearing by the noise as a chopped tire could be the reason behind it. I AM TRYING TO AVOID TORY POLICY POTHOLE DAMAGE” stickers for front and back of my car! Her son is 6'5 and weights close to 300 lbs will that be a factor for the wheel bearings to mess up. Answer: It's very possible your struts are the issue if they are leaking oil or gas. Generally, but not always, the noise will be louder during low-speed turns. It's sound like a "tink"... sort of like hitting a pie pan or a low symbol. I've had the sensor replaced twice, once by my mechanic and the other by the local GM dealership. If you suspect a sealed wheel bearing is worn or defective, grasp the tire at the top and bottom and rock it back and forth. Keep me posted on what you find, thanks. When your tires are unbalanced, some of those other parts could be damaged and then it will make noise come from the wheel bearing. I am hearing a noise in my front driver tire but it's not all the time. Usually when I have driven for a while and it happens when I change speeds or go over any kind of bump. I recommend having someone double-check the noise to make sure that in fact, it is a wheel bearing and not something else. Im wondering if a tire could be damaged or something else. Vibration. 4 Causes of Noise and Vibration From the Wheel Area, 9 Causes of a Steering Wheel That Makes Noise When Turning, 4 Symptoms of a Bad Throw-Out Bearing (& Replacement Cost), Carb Cleaner vs Brake Cleaner vs Throttle Body Cleaner (What’s The Difference? Usually if a bearing is not noisy, it doesn't have a problem, it could have some play in it, but some bearings can be adjusted by tightening the axle nut. Based on comments I've read it sounds like a wheel bearing going bad. Should I be concerned that I will have further problems? No play but since getting the rotation the helicopter sound and humming has gotten louder. ), 4 Symptoms of a Bad Oil Control Valve (and VVT Solenoid), P0122 Code (Symptoms, Causes, and How to Fix), 11 Best Automotive Scan Tools (for Home and Professional Use), Conventional vs. My front tires are winter tires and are cupped and I know I need new struts. Do you hear any pressure building up outside the vehicle or any hissing noise when the vehicle is slowing down? Had all 4 new tires rotated and balanced 2 days ago and the sound is still there along with a slight vibration felt in steering wheel and gas pedal. The best would be to raise the vehicle with the help of a hydraulic jack and push the wheel towards you with back and forth movements. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on May 20, 2019: It's possible it's a wheel bearing, but what weird is the noise disappeared and then returned. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on January 13, 2019: Most likely y the noise is a wheel bearing, it may sound different because it's in the rear, there really is no common sound for a wheel bearing because there are many different styles. If you can hear it, the noise is likely to be a grating, grinding or rumbling which changes with the road speed and doesn’t change when you blip the throttle or dip the clutch. Wheel bearings will not cause a knocking noise. Thank you!! Wheel bearings sit on the wheel hub on “races” that allow it to spin. Then the noise started up right away. My question is, could this be an electrical problem or something else? HELP! There are also open recalls on the male model 2010 cx7. Sealed bearings are non-serviceable and will never need grease. You need to know how to keep your once-new RV in good condition for that day when you decide to sell it or trade it in on another one. No noise yet. Don't let the tool touch a moving part, or it could fly up and hit you. It will sound like metal grinding on metal and will get louder as the vehicle goes faster. Very insightful videos, my right wheel bearing from your analysis seem messed up. The classic symptom of a bad wheel bearing is typically a cyclic chirping, squealing or growling noise that changes in proportion to vehicle speed. When I turn right , I hear the noise. Wheel bearings are attached to the wheel and are constantly moving. If the wheel bearings are damaged then you are going to experience a lot of shakiness … Turning left, the noise stops. Heat caused by lack of lubrication can destroy a wheel bearing. Now, when I accelerate to 50+mph my vehicle seats roughly from side to side. If you end up cutting the shaft slightly, it shouldn't affect the installation or the operation of the new bearing. Here’s a video that indicates wheel bearing noise. Such a shame we cannot tie wheel bearing damage to a particular pothole incident… penny pinching highways departments find it cheaper to pay out on the few successful pothole damage claimants than to spend their budget repairing the potholes like they are tasked to… and have a duty of care to do. Its two worst enemies are heat and water. As you continue to drive the car with these imperfect bearings, it will cause more heat and friction. As explained in the video below, if you really want to know whether your noise is a bearing noise and you can get the car up on a lift, you can use an improvised stethoscope (actually a big screwdriver) to listen to the sound and find out where it's coming from. I recommend fixing the tire leak first and when they are in the same area, have them check the brake pad life and for any debris that could be caught between the rotor and backing plate, or maybe you have drum brakes?? Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 07, 2019: Not likely, They couldn't damage anything just swapping tires, maybe you didn't hear it because the snow tires are loud and aggressive? The sound may disappear at some speeds or only occur at certain speeds. If you have a question, please feel free to leave it in the comments box, I will answer it as soon as possible. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on February 21, 2020: Usually, a cracking noise when turning is caused by a worn or damaged CV joint but it doesn't usually cause a wobble unless the internal "C" clip at the outer CV joint is worn and the axle shaft is riding against the inside of the CV joint. If this happens, … Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on January 26, 2019: Sorry about the slow reply, It may not be a wheel bearing, I could also be a locking hub malfunctioning or worn brake pads, I highly recommend getting it checked if you haven't yet. Who knew that the tires would mimic the same sounds almost tht a bad wheel bearing will do? I replaced my rear wheel bearing 2 months bck but the noise like air or rumble is back.and gets very loud as i speed.do you think it could be the front wheel bearing. Sounds like something in a peg of a bike. There is a big difference in labor between a Honda Civic rear wheel bearing and a Ford F250 rear wheel bearing. Clunking noises when driving over uneven road surfaces. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on January 02, 2019: How did you make out with the tires? You can make some repairs using a few common tools. grinding noises do not come from bearings but rotors or drums. We did have a lot of rain the other day and sandy dirt under. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 24, 2019: It's possible and now the noise is getting louder. elisontaruvinga@gmail.com on February 16, 2019: How long should a front wheel bearing last no matter being of cheap quality? I got the car in november 2017 and in feb 2018 i had the accident i gave her the jeep in december 2018 and shes been having it for 5months and has been having issues. There are many sounds coming from a vehicle that are reason for concern, so it’s … I enjoyed reading the entire article. I hear some metal grinding somewhat from back end I believe when going low speeds such as 10-20mph. Sealed wheel bearings allow the wheel to spin smoothly and keep the tire running true. Why Do Wheel Bearings Make Noise? This noise can point to a broken bearing in the wheel hub assembly. Question: I bumped into the curb. Should I stop driving the car until I can get it fixed? Let me know if this helps, thanks. I recently had a right front outer tie rod replaced. Do not drive crazy or cause the car to spin out, just sway it gently. They also help the wheel to spin freely giving you a smooth ride. Answer: Worn out brake pads would make a sound like that, or if a small rock is caught between the rotor and backing plate. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on May 21, 2019: Do you notice if you hear the noise while braking or just coasting? Answer: Did the mechanic say why they needed to be changed? Answer: Most likely, the rotor backing plate is to close to the rotor and needs to be adjusted. Are you driving straight or turning? Im stuck on what to order!! Theyre not even a year old and i havent even put 10,000 miles on them yet, so hopefully they will replace them! Since the wheels are touching the road while driving, there could be a variety of reasons why the wheel bearing is making these strange noises or becoming damaged. Hint - typically worn wheel bearing noise is there any time vehicle is in motion and is in rhythm with mph - not necessarily just at a particular speed. Your mechanic says you need a wheel bearing, but you wonder "What is that?" No matter done , still they don't last. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on May 23, 2019: Yes, tire chop can sound very similar to a damaged wheel bearing. What do you think it could be? How to Diagnose Damaged or Noisy Wheel Bearings. Question: If the wheel bearings are making a loud noise when going straight, as well as when turning right, is that a bad sign? Humming Noises. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. It's a difficult job to do yourself without a press, because it's a tight fit getting the bearing in and out of the hub. Could rotating the tires put strain on an already bad bearing thus making the systems worse? The noise will often correspond to the vehicles speed becoming louder or more steady at higher speeds. Sometimes you may be driving at 60 MPH and hear the noise, but then accelerate to 65 MPH and the noise goes away. With a damaged or broken wheel bearing, it may sound like you’re driving over a rumble strip on the shoulder of a highway. The only way to check for bearing play is to grab the wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock, or 3 and 9 o'clock and rock it back and forth with opposite pressures at each hand (if that makes sense) or you could check it for noise with the wheel spinning off the ground with a stethoscope or something similar. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on May 27, 2020: The best way to diagnose the noise is to have a mechanic raise the car in the air and use an automotive stethoscope to locate or pinpoint the failed part, otherwise, you're just guessing. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on August 05, 2019: I can't say what's safe, but I can recommend you bring it to a shop and get their expert opinion, it's better to have it checked than to guess :). For … Question: If a wheel bearing is replaced would it need to be replaced again within one week? Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on July 08, 2019: The weight of the driver has nothing to do with wheel bearing failing :) I also don't think the accident has anything to do with it failing either because of the length of time since the accident. I had my jeep for 1yr and 3months and didint had an issue i gave it to my friend and all of a sudden shes having issues with it and claims that because the car was in an accident it messed up the wheel bearings. No, that is not the proper way to check wheel bearings! There is more force on a bearing when taking a sharp turn at fast speeds like exiting a highway then there would be scrubbing a curb. Answer: Your tire may be close to something and only rubs when parts are moving and flexing. In 1957, the East German government released the horrible Trabant car on an unsuspecting Communist world. Do you have any thoughts about this issue before I commit to fixing the vehicle by the process of elimination by repair? (Oh, all right, it's an air intake!). It is a constant sound when driving slowly, enough so, that people look over as i drive by. A few months after getting new tires the sound has returned but even louder. You can use a high-temperature wheel bearing grease found at any auto parts store. How urgent is the repair? If you have a bad wheel bearing, it could feel different. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on March 12, 2020: It sounds like you may have a sticking caliper, I recommend you check the temperature of each wheel after driving to see if one wheel is hotter then all the other ones because that would indicate a sticking caliper. Let me know, thanks. On a car, a wheel bearing rides on a metal axle shaft and fits tightly inside the hub, which is a hollow chunk of metal at the center of the wheel. Also if one bearing goes it is sensible to replace the other side at the same time. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on April 15, 2019: Sounds like your brake rotors have pad imprints or rust causing the noise. Keep up the Great work (: Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on December 17, 2019: If the dealer replaced the sensor to fix the problem and you still have a problem I highly recommend you bring it back to them because they didn't diagnose the problem properly. When a vehicle comes to a stop, the bearings start to cool off and then a vacuum is generated from the lubricant, air, and contacting metal. Looking for help on a scrapping / for lack of a better term banging noise only when driving, not present when in Park, no engine codes or anything its a 2004 Chysler Sebring, as mentioned there is what almost sounds like scrapping and a thump thump thump noise, any advice would be appreciated. Especially turning curves, once straightening steering wheel it almost seems to want to go straight. Drive it two miles , no sound. Keep me posted on what happens and how it sounds with new tires :). They come from the factory pressed together as an assembly: front race, bearing set, center race, bearing set, and outer race, with seals on both the front and rear. If it is electrical should I take it in to an automotive electrical repair shop, or just live with it, due to the possible expense of replacing whatever is wrong? Bearings fail sometimes for no reason except a defective seal. I have a 2007 hummer h3 i think the hub is going bad it is making a really bad metal on metal sound it went from just barely able to hear it to omg i think the tire is falling off really fast. My 2012 nissun altmua has a gridding sound in frontend and slow down rather fast when taking foot off gas pedal what maybe the reason for these things. The mechanics changed the two rear wheel bearings and it was still making the same sound. The videos were very helpful as well. Let me know if you have more questions. Just had rear bearings replace is dealership where I purchased car. Any advice and suggestions? Why Do Wheel Bearings Make Noise? If you were to drive over a bumpy curb or pothole, the wheel bearing could be subjected to damage quite easily. As a result, I had the lower arm changed. He is an ASE Certified Master Technician and has bruised knuckles to prove it. Answer: Try replacing the sway bar bushings first, they are what soften the noise from the sway bar to the frame, and they wear out over time and cause a knocking noise over bumps. Thanks again! Shakiness. The noise has something to do with the brakes because you only hear it when they are applied, so either it's rotors, pads, shims, or calipers. Can bad wheel bearings cause brakes to lock? If the vehicle is parked for a while the sound doesn't occur, but after driving for awhile it appears to stay for the duration of the day. The noise may get worse when turning, or it may disappear momentarily. Answer: If there is no noise and the wheel bearing doesn't have any play there isn't a problem yet and it may take years for there to be a problem depending on driving habits, condition, and miles driven. I just went to go to the store. Usually if the wheel bearing is noisy it because of damage, but if the wheel bearing was loose because the nut backed off and there was no noise, the nut may have just needed to be tightened. Any suggestions...is it something that needs to be fix ASAP? You shouldn't necessarily have the bearings on both sides replaced. Balding seems to be more centered than inner although the wear does extend towards inner side as well. Can a car accident break wheel bearings even if it didint hit face to face but from the front bumper driver side? The noise sounds more like a creaking noise, and it just started to also sound like a disc spinning. Find out whether your car's temperature gauge is working right, discovering key symptoms and applying a few simple tests. Took it out later in the night, it happened again a sort of popping and loud screeching sound like I broke something in the rear of the car. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. I have been bitten before by guessing so I recommend you have a mechanic check it on the lift with a stethoscope or something similar just so you're not throwing parts at the car hoping to fix the issue. The only bad thing is that this lubricant cannot stop water from getting through. The noise of a broken wheel bearing can sound similar to a brake pad dragging or humming. It shakes the ground and carves up the roads. I don't think it impairs driving, but it's so loud it makes you think your wheel might fall off if you cut it too deep. I took the vehicle to a local mechanic that took apart the wheel and said he saw some rust, but then thought the issue was fixed after finding some rocks inside the fins of the rotor and not hearing the sound after that during short drives.