Bearing failure or ?
 

When overtaking a large truck I suddenly detected vibrations I haven't felt before. This was at the bottom of a mountain pass and then there was gravel road and other awful conditions. When we started the downward slope, my breakes started squeeking a bit. I thought maybe they were a bit overheated.

The problem is still around but in low speeds I keep here in town it's not so pronounced. We are visiting my mother who's had Subarus since early 80s and she thinks it's the front bearing. In short, there's a bit of vibration in the steering wheel, in the chairs and some occational squeeking from the left front wheel.

What's your take?

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

Wheel bearing failure usually becomes noticeable as a whine or roaring sound that changes in pitch and volume with variations in speed. As failure progresses, the noise increases. Seems unlikely this is your problem.

Possibly you've warped a brake rotor?

dcb

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

It's possible you have a piece of gravel lodged in the LF brake caliper, causing the squeal. I would get the front end in the air, pull the wheels and give the brakes a good look for wear, and grease the slide bolts.

Glenn

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

Maybe just a CV shaft?

Keith:cool:

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

Wheels tight? Had the car worked on recently?

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

2nd on the warped rotor....

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

Yes, it was subject to a "safety check" a week ago while I had the rallye lights removed. I could always take the wheel on and off. I can probably borrow a torque wrench from my mom's neighbour. How much should I use on the wheels?

As for warped rotor.. why should there be vibration while I'm not braking if the rotor is warped?

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

It is a round object that spins with the wheel, if it's warped very bad it can shake even if the brakes aren't applied, (or could have a caliper sticking) but it could also be that, when on the rough road, you slung off a wheel weight, putting your wheel out of balance...

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

I agree rotor . With disk brakes the puck ( brake pad) is in constant contact with the rotor. If the rotor is warped the caliper will wobble. Some cars will actually have a continuous chirping noise when you drive. That wheel weight or something ( stone or foregien object ) stuck somplace on the wheel has some merit also .

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

Maybe I'm just a bit of a hypocondriac but after driving 500km yesterday I feel pretty sure there's an extra sound that wasn't there before. A bit like a droning sound.

Is there any way to visually inspect the bearings to see if they're done for? Since I'm changing brake discs, should I just have the bearings replaced at the same time in order to save work time?

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

Feel your wheels after you driven for a while, if one of them is a lot hotter than the others, you probably have a brake caliper sticking, which will warp the new rotor in short order if not addressed...:eek:

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

Well I took a small mountain drive and tried out Power - brake - Power - brake etc. The wheels are studded and didn't feel very hot, neither rubber nor rims. So I dared myself to lightly tap the rotors and while the difference wasn't exactly huge, I'm fairly sure the RF which is where the occational whine comes from was hotter. Difficult to say by light tapping, but quite sure.

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

Rotor will aways be hot after use. You should touch as close to the hub as you can . Be carful touching rotor .Temp. can easily be 300 deg or hotter after braking. Could cause sever burns.
Actually drive around trying not to use your brakes as much as possible and test to see how warm the hub gets.

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

That would be when searching for a bad bearing,....I was leaning toward a sticky caliper, getting the rotor hot and warping it, hence touching the wheels (I too avoid touching the rotor after driving, due to possible burns)

Re: Bearing failure or ?
 

I tapped them lightly and I didn't get a burn :)

Just to clear up a misunderstanding.. by wheels, you mean alloys or the rubber?

cheers