Help with front wheel bearing checking

redcoupe86 · 03-26-2006, 12:14 PM

I've read my bentley manual and I get the jist on what I need to do to check for the "play". However, before I go getting into all of that, let me ask if you think the simptoms are the front wheel bearings at all.

First, with the car jacked up and the wheel hanging free, I can grip the top and bottom of the wheel and rock the it back and forth ever so slightly (both sides of the car).

Second, when I'm comming to a stop, im pressing the break pedal right. Well right before the car comes to a complete stop, say the last foot or so, if I let of the break I get this sound thats like a cross between a moan and a creak. No steering input, just coasting the last foot or so.

My guess is the front wheel bearings, but Im open to comments here.

thanks.

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

I think that sound about right, but you dont have to have your car up in the air to test them. If the wheel bearings are indeed bad then you should be able to grasp the wheel and get the same side to side movement when its sitting on the ground. Either way it sounds like they could be your issue.

Steve 82SC · 03-26-2006, 02:23 PM

Sometimes what seems like a bad bearing may be a little too much play in the bearing adjustment....pretty easy to eliminate. I had an very slight vibration coming through the steering wheel if I turned the car quickly to the left at about 30 mph. I suspected that that movement was loading up the right front wheel bearing. I took off the r/f wheel and removed the brake pads so there would be no noise other than the wheel (actually the wheel hub) spinning. Sure enough, I heard a "clickity-clickity-clickity" sound. Tried the same thing on the left and there was complete silence. Replaced wheel bearings on both sides....problem solved. If you do this and it spins quietly, you might want to first tighten up the adjustment on the front wheel bearings....just don't make them too tight.

Steve

wanabe911 owner · 03-26-2006, 03:57 PM

I get the same groaning sound from the front of my 86 coupe, I have been looking to fix this for a while, always thinking its the brakes, but new pads and rotors (need them anyway) still makes the sound. I should have just did the bearings while I was right there!

redcoupe86 · 03-26-2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve 82SC
Sometimes what seems like a bad bearing may be a little too much play in the bearing adjustment....pretty easy to eliminate. I had an very slight vibration coming through the steering wheel if I turned the car quickly to the left at about 30 mph. I suspected that that movement was loading up the right front wheel bearing. I took off the r/f wheel and removed the brake pads so there would be no noise other than the wheel (actually the wheel hub) spinning. Sure enough, I heard a "clickity-clickity-clickity" sound. Tried the same thing on the left and there was complete silence. Replaced wheel bearings on both sides....problem solved. If you do this and it spins quietly, you might want to first tighten up the adjustment on the front wheel bearings....just don't make them too tight.

Steve

Confirmed somthing thats been in the back of my mind. I've just went through the past receipts of the PO. Seems he put new front bearing on less than a year before i got the car. I suspect I may just need to go back and check the freeplay. If Im lucky, thats all it will be. I just installed all knew front suspension on the thing and just had it aligned. So I know all that stuff is good.