Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings....

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Fri 5 Jul 2013 11:40
Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings.... - egnaro

....you feel stupid asking :(

On a front wheel drive car - Hyundai Getz for example :

When spinning the front wheel to carry out a basic check on the wheel bearings. How do you distinguish between the noise the bearing is making and the noise made from the inboard transmission ?

oh, and hi from a newbie :)

Edited by egnaro on 05/07/2013 at 11:41

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Fri 5 Jul 2013 23:25
Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings.... - Peter.N.

With difficulty although if the bearing is rough you should be able to feel the vibration. Generally wheel bearings sound OK with no weight on them, you will usually only hear them when driving.

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Sat 6 Jul 2013 07:40
Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings.... - gordonbennet

Agree with Peter, and they can be difficult to isolate, usually on bends (if you can find a smooth surface anywhere) as the weight transfers to one side onto a failing bearing you will hear the noise/vibration increase, but don't assume that it means the bearing on the ouside of the bend is the culprit, it can just as likely be the inner bearing on the ''light'' side.

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Sat 6 Jul 2013 09:29
Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings.... - egnaro

Outside of replacing all four bearings., the answer appears to be watch and wait until one is so bad it becomes obvious. Its one of those questions you often see answered with the definitive 'spin the wheel and rock it back and forth'. But with front wheel drive cars and outboard transmission bearings, you would have to possess the hearing of an owl.

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Sat 6 Jul 2013 11:29
Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings.... - Andrew-T

Wheel bearings aren't usually a hazardous threat, so keep driving until the noise identifies itself or becomes unpleasant. In the 'old days' bearings used to start as a twitter or shriek and gradually evolve into a loud growl if it got really bad. Most drivers were too embarrassed to let things go as far as that.

Edited by Andrew-T on 06/07/2013 at 11:29

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Sat 6 Jul 2013 11:52
Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings.... - Ordovices

If you suspect you've got a wheel bearing problem, I'd have a good check, and possibly swap around of the tyres first.

Tracking a bit out and tyre edges ridge as a result can do a really good impression of a rumbling bearing. I've found this several times, and different road surfaces seem to exacerbate it.

The last true bearing failure sounded like a sub machine gun burst when going around left hand bends, when I stripped the old hub down the damage was a row of pitting on one surface about .5mm across and unbelievably shallow.

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Sat 6 Jul 2013 15:41
Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings.... - egnaro

The whole thing started when I replaced the tyres. lol !

This morning I had struts, shocks...cv...drive shafts..all checked by independant local tyre guy and specialist firm who set up four-wheel alignment ! Both seem to suggest its a resonance issue, I've noticed a similar problem reported by an i10 owner, same tyres, same symptoms as mine. I have managed to contact the owner an await further details. If its weird, it seeks me out and taps me on the shoulder !

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Sat 6 Jul 2013 16:59
Hyundai Getz - One of those questions about wheel bearings.... - Peter D

"The whole thing started when I replaced the tyres. "

That could be a clue then. What size and make of tyre did you take off and what size and make did you have fitted.

Regards Peter

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