Do I have a bad wheel bearing? (video)

[323]

I installed coilovers this weekend and noticed the sound even more. Before coilovers, i heard the sound driving straight and it gets louder when making right turns. Now with coilovers on, it's even louder. Guessing it's the pillowball mounts transferring more noise. It's coming from the front left corner. I jacked up the car and wiggled the wheel but there was no play in the 3/9 and 12/6 positions.

you can hear the sound slow down as the car slows down at the end of the video. Thanks all.

 

[hornsfan10609]

That would be my guess

 

[323]

Hmm. Wouldn't a bad wheel bearing be more of a humming sound?

 

[03protolx]

Yes you have a bad wheel bearing or Bearing(s). Common issue with the bj chassis. I had mine replaced at 109k.

they fail because mazda never put a "weather ring" on the inside of the knuckle where the cv shaft meets the knuckle. it keeps dirt and moisture from getting in and keeps the grease from getting out.

you can get the weather rings at the dealer for about $1.58 a piece and they will prolong the life of the wheel bearings.




Do NOT cheap out on wheel bearings. Make sure to get TIMKEN and do it right with a press.

 

[destineal]

jack the car up and check for wheel wobble like a pro

 

[hornsfan10609]

The fact that it changes when you turn is what makes me think it's a WB.

 

[Preferio]

If the noise is augmented when the bearing is loaded/unloaded, it's a 99.99999999% likelihood that it's a bearing. You don't have to have lateral play for the bearing to be bad.

 

[protege3690]

yea def a wheel bearing lol. sounds just like a helicopter in the video. my gf's p5 sounded exactly the same when one of her front ones went bad.

 

[323]

ok cool. yeah helicopter, washing machine, etc lol.

 

[323]

so my mechanic friend working on the car said the axle is seized onto the hub. they couldn't press it out and even if they could with a bigger press, both piece would be ruined. they also tried torching it.

great.. guess i'll be buying another hub and axle.

 

[duren03msp]

I know it's not recommended but when I did both my front wheel bearings on my '02 ES, the passenger side axle was royally seized into the hub. tried for hours to get it out the right way but ended up just pulling the bottom of the knuckle towards me while smacking the axle with the nut threaded flush with the end until it finally popped loose. I did ruin the axle nut and mushroomed the very tip of the axle but instead of buying a new axle I just verified the threads were not damaged and took a grinder ever so slightly to the mushroomed end so that a new nut would slide right on. all is good. but yes, that sounds just like my bearings when they were bad.

 

[thuzil]

Angle grind the hub till it is close to the axle and then use a cold chisel to break the hub off the axle.

 

[323]

i got it all taken care of. knuckle is still seized to the hub but a hydraulic press got the axle out without much damage. will be returning that one for core.