Burbling again..........but?

[mattsay]

Hi,

Enjoying having my girl back on the road and gradually the paranoid feeling I have towards the cooling system is waning (just had major work done returning car to almost standard spec - even have the Kenlowe disconnected at present). Hopefully soon I won't be concerned at all.

Except since I've had the car back I have noticed a very audible noise in certain cornering situations. Best description I can give is a slightly metallic rubbing / grinding / binding / moaning noise (not the wife BTW), most evident on sharper bends. Recent MOT had advisories for slight play in both front wheel bearings. Could that be it? Thing is, I can't make my mind up as to whether the noise is up front or back. It doesn't happen all the time and it tends to catch me by surprise (listening to exhaust tone mainly)

Any ideas please?

Thanks in advance,

Matt.

[V Mad]

Matt, the MOT testers normally pick up a rough bearing problem, although they may have missed that. Alternatively If the wheel bearings have play the discs pads could be rubbing when the wheels have cornering forces but I would have thought the noise would only be very slight. Does it happen when cornering left and right?

[mattsay]

Hi Chris,

I should have added that I have new discs and pads too (only 20 or 30 miles on them, so not yet bedded in I guess). I thought about stating in my original post that the noise seems to be more apparent on LH bends but I will need another run to be sure. I did think the noise was on the RHS, but it might just be because that's the side I sit (I find it better to drive on that side). Matt.

[martin]

Hiya Matt, front wheel bearing wear can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages, replacing both sides is simple and inexpensive, I think that's what I'd go for, it's not wasted money/effort if it turns out not to be them. Martin.

[mattsay]

Hi Martin,

Yeah guess you are right - I know it makes sense to do the wheel bearings anyway as they are an advisory, but was wondering if this really could be the cause of the noise as I haven't heard anything like it before. Guess we will find out by elimination. I'm no mechanic (although I did HG on Sprint in my late teens / early twenties) - are they (bearings) really that easy to do? I believe the rears are much more problematic?

Cheers, Matt.

[Andy Rundell]

Hiya Matt, front wheel bearing wear can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages, replacing both sides is simple and inexpensive, I think that's what I'd go for, it's not wasted money/effort if it turns out not to be them. Martin.

Good advice from Martin - simple and cheap job - Just Do It

[martin]

Hi Martin,

Yeah guess you are right - I know it makes sense to do the wheel bearings anyway as they are an advisory, but was wondering if this really could be the cause of the noise as I haven't heard anything like it before. Guess we will find out by elimination. I'm no mechanic (although I did HG on Sprint in my late teens / early twenties) - are they (bearings) really that easy to do? I believe the rears are much more problematic?

Cheers, Matt.

Once you've got the hub off, all you need is a biggish blunt screwdriver / cold chisel, a medium hammer, and the workshop manual, not complicated at all. Martin.

[mattsay]

Once you've got the hub off, all you need is a biggish blunt screwdriver / cold chisel, a medium hammer, and the workshop manual, not complicated at all. Martin.

sounds like my favourite set of tools (apart from the manual!)- just need to learn that I can't use them for every job !
Thanks Martin

[mattsay]

Hi all,

Just thought I would post quick update regarding horrible noise I had when cornering and reversing on fullish lock. Mate and me did wheel bearings today and noise has gone. Splash guard on near side was very close to disc (recent fitting) but not apparently in contact. Offside bearing was particularly knackered. No noise during spirited drive this afternoon, not yet anyway! Thanks to input from all of you - hopefully case closed.

Matt.

[martin]

Excellent !

[KOY 23]

Well diagnosed, Doc Martin.

[martin]

Well diagnosed, Doc Martin.

That'll be five guineas please.

[StagnJag]

Guinnea Pigs.jpg

[mattsay]

imagesCAY2CL5H.jpg

[martin]

Wonderful !