Wheel bearing failure ?

[Nigel Crompton]

This is proving an eventful trip.

About 10k into the day's journey a vibration started, quite suddenly. I detected a slight rumble which I was thinking was the road surface, but within seconds I was disabused of that opinion. Fuel station 1km ahead so drove to that, slowly.

Checked wheelnuts, pressures and balance weights (wheeltrims went AWOL a while ago) were all OK, and felt all around each tyre for embedded foreign objects. None found.

So, wheel-bearing ? Could it be anything else ?
Wasn't feeling much thro' the steering wheel, so assuming rear.


As we'd just driven downhill for 15mins so all the wheels were hot, unable to make any differentiation with the back of my hand.

And, wouldn't you know it, it's a saint's day today in Basque-land, everything's shut today & tomorrow ....

 

[Gingernuts]

Grab hold of each wheel at the top of the tyre and push and pull, any play should be noticeable if the bearing is fubarred
Doesn’t work on twin wheel axles tho!

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Grab hold of each wheel at the top of the tyre and push and pull, any play should be noticeable if the bearing is fubarred
Doesn’t work on twin wheel axles tho!

Now done that, no obvious play detected ....

 

[tacr2man]

Has the vibration continued after cooling period , if no then more likely in braking system

 

[donkey]

To check rear bearings. ideally jack the wheel off the ground. At the very least you will need to release the parking brake, after securely chocking the front wheels.

Geoff

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Has the vibration continued after cooling period , if no then more likely in braking system

Ah. Felt nothing untoward coming down the hill this morning; they're still quite warm ....so i'll wait a bit. Lunch calls!

 

[Nigel Crompton]

To check rear bearings. ideally jack the wheel off the ground. At the very least you will need to release the parking brake, after securely chocking the front wheels.

Geoff

Last resort this ....

 

[pappajohn]

Last resort this ....

Should be your first check.
If the bearing is failing the brake disc will begin rubbing on the caliper and the disc will invariably need replacing as well.

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Should be your first check.
If the bearing is failing the brake disc will begin rubbing on the caliper and the disc will invariably need replacing as well.

My insurance company has arranged recovery; waiting for a call-back from a Fiat Professional outfit.
They'd better do better than the two and a half days we waited last time ....

 

[Nigel Crompton]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[donkey]

Let's hope it's not a front hub bearing that has failed.

Geoff

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Let's hope it's not a front hub bearing that has failed.

Geoff

Nope, we had a little drive up and down the road to satisfy the truck driver that the vibration was coming from the back. Anyway, it's arrived at the fiat dealer's unscathed ... apparently...

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Assuming that it is a failed wheel bearing, in the hive's opinion should I replace both?
(It's only done, albeit always laden, 66000km)

 

[Diabalo]

I would for peace of mind.

 

[Roger S]

Bulged tyre

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Bulged tyre

Felt 'em up. And the tyres. Couldn't feel anything ...

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Garage open, not possible to do a bearing change, too busy and they close for a month on Friday.
Good job it's a deformed tyre then. Ordering 4 to arrive tomorrow & spending the night in their compound.
The deformation is now very obvious, but I couldn't feel it when it first made itself felt.

Existing tyres (brand:Rodian) supplied by Black Circle just over 5 years ago. Fronts didn't have much wear left in them, they would've been replaced this year anyway.

 

[pagey]

Garage open, not possible to do a bearing change, too busy and they close for a month on Friday.
Good job it's a deformed tyre then. Ordering 4 to arrive tomorrow & spending the night in their compound.
The deformation is now very obvious, but I couldn't feel it when it first made itself felt.

Existing tyres (brand:Rodian) supplied by Black Circle just over 5 years ago. Fronts didn't have much wear left in them, they would've been replaced this year anyway.

Result now you have something you did need instead of something you did not

 

[1967bowesj]

Just had all 4 on ours replaced.
Fitter who i always go to said the insides of the two rears were knackered, lots of rubber delaminating. Outsides no signs of damage other than some cracking between the inside first and second treads, only visible close up and at 90deg.

 

[Nigel Crompton]

Just arrived ...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Nigel Crompton]

So that pile of tyres are Conti. Van contact Camper. After 30km I will say the ride is better and quieter at 5/5.5 bar when the previous set I ran at 4.5/5 bar. All subjective, of course ...