Possible Dying/dead Wheel Bearing?

[AzzurrA]

i now have another problem, that i am getting very stressed about, due to there being a track day on saturday that i REALLY want to make it to....

there is a noise coming from what seems to be the front left wheel.

at first i thought it might be a stone in the tyre - nope.

what it sounds like, is a 'plasticky-sounding' clicking/whirring/grinding noise that increases/decreases with wheel revolution, only seems to start once the car has warmed up (i.e. doesn't do it first thing in the morning).

I dropped into my suspension place on the way to work this morning, and he seemed to think everything is fine, and that its just a high spot in the pad or rotor that rubs at a certain point....

now, i've heard what he's describing before, and it sounds nothing like that, and the other thing that makes me think its not that, is that the noise is still there when you're using the brakes (i.e. if you left foot brake and still drive along, its still there etc)

now, this has me stumped, and fairly worried...

HELP!!!!

[MerlinTheHapyPig]

to check wheel bearing, jack up that side of the car, and try moving the bottom of the wheel toward you and away, to feel for play. If you get play, it's a sign the wheel bearing needs replacing.

-check that the plate behind the brake rotor isn't rubbing, this is quite common and will make a metallic scraping sound

-maybe take to a brake place and check the run-out on the rotors etc.

-check for any thing that looks like it might be rubbing on something (loose cable, loose inner guard lining etc.)

[PHATR32]

actually a noisey wheel bearing wont always have play.

my left one was noisey as all hell, but had no notciable play in it.

steve

[mad082]

where can you get new bearings from and roughly how much? i have a noisey wheel bearing too (oddly enough its the front left too - get a few more people with them and we should hit nissan up for a product recall). i haven't even started looking yet, so i figured since there is a thread about it i might as well ask.

[skylinecouple]

I`m with mad 082.My f/left and r/left are slightly worn and need doing.Saw the tutorial but looks a little dodgey.Still,if Advan can quote $560 for rear then I`ll look at options.

[Cubes]

My left front was replaced 4.5years ago.

It cost me $250 inc. labour, the others have been fine since.

Mine was silent when not turning but rather loud and worrying when turning slightly, it was noticable at around 40-50km/h around a corner as you approached 80km/h it was so wirrr r r r r rr that it was worrying.

[Bl4cK32]

not a stone in between the stone guard and the rotor?

lol - product recall on a 14 year old car

[AzzurrA]

My left front was replaced 4.5years ago.

It cost me $250 inc. labour, the others have been fine since.

Mine was silent when not turning but rather loud and worrying when turning slightly, it was noticable at around 40-50km/h around a corner as you approached 80km/h it was so wirrr r r r r rr that it was worrying.

This is pretty much what it's doing.... when the wheel is straight, it doesn't do it (well, it used to, but doesn't seem to any more) only does it when the steering wheel is slightly offcentre, and to the right

[BHDave]

I must be the odd man out. My front right went about 6 months ago. Front left is still fine.

[Abo Bob]

It's cheap to get rotors machined and despite what it seems like in this thread Skylines actually only fairly rarely do wheel bearings.

If you've seen a Skyline wheel bearing out of the car you'll understand why. They are bigger than any other wheel bearing I've ever seen. (Not to say bigger ones aren't out there, just that I haven't seen them.)

I suggest doing the rotors first to see if that's it then if not look at doing the wheel bearing.

[AzzurrA]

rotors are brand new mate

[GTAAAH]

If it helps, i had the same problem on my 32 (and on my 78 golf) both times it sounded like a dry bearing, or like something that is spinning and needs greasing. Was noticeable with clutch in and changed pitch at different speeds, Also was only noticeable turning right at first then eventually noticeable going straight to. $450 is insanity but i suppose everything is expensive on imports. Can you just re-grease them or are they sealed.. in which case they wouldnt need re-greasing, but re-placing anyway

Edited June 27, 2006 by r32 gts-turbo

[Abo Bob]

rotors are brand new mate

oh well back to the wheel bearing then. haha

[Cubes]

It's cheap to get rotors machined and despite what it seems like in this thread Skylines actually only fairly rarely do wheel bearings.

If you've seen a Skyline wheel bearing out of the car you'll understand why. They are bigger than any other wheel bearing I've ever seen. (Not to say bigger ones aren't out there, just that I haven't seen them.)

I suggest doing the rotors first to see if that's it then if not look at doing the wheel bearing.

I agree they are friggin huge. realistically these cars are getting damn old. God knows how many kays some of them have 'really' done.

By the look of certian wear many 60-80,000km R32's a few years back have really done 200,000+ km's.