Rumble...wheel bearing or cv joint.

David Lee · Post by **David Lee** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:55 pm

Hi All

Bit of advice before I put my hand in my pocket.

Got abit of a rumble coming from the front drivers side (i think). Its been slowly getting worse for the last 10/15K. Initally thought it was just tyre noise.

Its now there all the time in varying degrees getting worse as speed increases.

Jacked up and cann't feel any play, changed pads just in case, no change.

If I am going round a slight right hand bend (say 40mph) seems worse. Slow speed full lock no noise.

Its 4wd and I am going to replace the wheel bearing unless anyone thinks I am on the wrong track.

Opinions please, positive/negative.

robdrinky · Post by **robdrinky** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:27 pm

difficult to be sure-but the description sounds like a possible wheel bearing problem.they can get noisy without any discernable play.
a cv joint on its way out is also a possibilty.
hope you get it sorted without to much hassle

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:35 pm

A cv joint will have a rhythmic "click, click" a wheel bearing rumble will tend to change pitch at different side loads

heatherpetch · Post by **heatherpetch** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:11 pm

Wwe had the same noise a few week ago

had the bearing and cv replaced,all fine now.

David Lee · Post by **David Lee** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:33 pm

Cheers for responses.

Given the fact we intend to keep the vehicle for sometime and intend to clock up some miles opted to do both at the same time, it would cost me more in time than parts if I had to take it off a second time.

Also need a boot for other side.

Will report back when done.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:57 pm

Hi David, it sounds as if the nearside front wheelbearing is "just" on its way out,is the droning noise at its worst at 40 ish?

As dandywarhol correctly points out, a knackered cv joint is more likely to have a rythmic "click" on full lock...However, i recently had my nearside cv joint replaced,and that had a rythmic "graunch, graunch,graunch" as the wheels were locked over!

The noise dissapeared when the cv joint was replaced

A failed cv boot some months earlier struck the death knoll for the joint,it had just lost too much grease,and taken on too much grit to survive,a temporary grease "re-pack" and boot change was too little, too late in my case....

I have a new unused outer cv boot your quite welcome to if its any use to ya David?

EDIT:OOps, just noticed your location,may be difficult for you to nip to mine to pick up the boot!

David Lee · Post by **David Lee** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:39 am

bigdaddycain wrote:Hi David, it sounds as if the nearside front wheelbearing is "just" on its way out,is the droning noise at its worst at 40 ish?
EDIT:OOps, just noticed your location,may be difficult for you to nip to mine to pick up the boot!

Hi Bigdaddycain why do say nearside front ? it sounds like the drivers side, passenger also says the same. Not trying to catch you out, thought you may have a technical reason for saying nearside, sound travelling etc.

First noticed the sound at a constant 60. Still there at 60 but is more noticeable at 40 (perhaps less road noise to mask it).

Thanks for offer of boot. Hang onto it you never know when you will need it.

cheers, Dave

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:09 pm

David Lee wrote:
bigdaddycain wrote:Hi David, it sounds as if the nearside front wheelbearing is "just" on its way out,is the droning noise at its worst at 40 ish?
EDIT:OOps, just noticed your location,may be difficult for you to nip to mine to pick up the boot!
Hi Bigdaddycain why do say nearside front ? it sounds like the drivers side, passenger also says the same.

When you mentioned that the noise seems more noticeable when turning to the right,that means as you turn to the right, the weight transfers to the left of the vehicle, more weight on the left hand side,more rumbling. Seems the bearing rumbles as the stress on it increases...