Wheel bearing kaput??

nixter · 06-26-2005, 11:36 AM

Hi guys, I've had this on again/off again squeal that seems to eminate from the rear right wheel area. It's pitch and pulse are directly related to wheel speed and not engine speed/rpm. I though it was my wheel bearing and had planned to get it checked out when I knocked a few other higher priority things off the checklist. Anyhow, I put same decent sized spacers on recently (35 mm in the back) and I guess with extra wheel distance from the bearing and the added forces involved, my somewhat annoying squeal has turned into a head turning howling squeal!

Ok, so definately bad bearing, right?

I seem to recal this can fixed, no? replacement? What's involved and roughly how much am I looking at?

Thanks guys!

Nik

nixter · 06-26-2005, 07:24 PM

Anyone??

bell · bell's Garage

rear wheel bearings are a bit of a pain.
you'll need a bearing remover tool, there are some DIY solutions to this.
in my case the bearing came out ok but the outer bearing race was one with the spindle (it separates when the spindal is removed usually)....required a large press and a welder to break it free.
it helps to put the new bearing in the freezer then heat up the hub.
there's alot of info in the archives on this.

Rot 911 · 06-27-2005, 06:11 AM

Doubt it is a wheel bearing. They tend to make more of a grumbling/roaring sound. If that bearing was actually squeeling it would be because there is no grease and I suspect you won't have to wait long for the bearing to disintegrate! I would not be driving the car until you figure out the problem.

David · David's Garage

Since it's a widebody, does it have turbo tapered bearings or the sealed bearings like a Carrera or SC?

Breeang · 06-27-2005, 07:15 AM

Yup it sounds like a wheel bearing. I have just replaced both of my rear wheel bearings. I had the wailing/whining thing going on as well.It would stop when I turned the steering wheel when driving,this changed the loading on the bearing and in my case the noise went away until I resumed straight line driving.I bit the bullet and bought the tool to do it myself. I tried to do it without the tool at first but that was a dismal failure and very frustrating.So I decided to do all the bearings front and back and get my money's worth.

nixter · 06-27-2005, 11:31 AM

Interesting. I talked to my mechanic this morning (he called me to give me some tire quotes) and he thought it wasn't the bearing as well due to the sound I described and also he said that if it was a bearing that it wouldn't come and go, I'd hear it all the time.

Breeang, did your symptoms match mine described above? What did the tools cost you? And what does the process involve?

This actually an issue that has plagued this car for about 10 years. It used to be fairly rare but has been more frequent lately. With the addition of my spacers, the sound is twice as loud.

Nik.

Superman · 06-27-2005, 11:34 AM

Yep, wheel bearing noises don't come and go, and they don't squeal. Rubber is usually needed in order to produce a squeal, like in tires and belts. Wheel bearings growl.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I had a front bearing disintegrate and it did not constantly make noise. I t made plenty of noise, but went away once in a while too. Get on this. You don't want to have this fail when you're on the highway. Ask me how I know.

nixter · 06-27-2005, 11:50 AM

Well considering the problem has been around for 10 years I doubt it's going to give up the ghost all of a sudden, but who knows.

Superman, you're saying that this could be tire related? My tires are old and hard and I'm getting new one this week. Although I pretty sure the problem is older than these tires even.

Hmmm,

Nik

nixter · 06-27-2005, 12:25 PM

Just thought of something. The noise comes from the rear right wheel area. If I switched the rear tires i could figure out pretty quickly if it's the tire or not, right?

Nik

Tricky D · 08:32 PM

Nixter,

Check your tires for wear. I had some Bridgestone RE 730s that would sound fine until about 50, then they would howl like banshees until over 80.

When I replaced them the problem went away. The tires were a little worn on the inside, and the block design of the RE 730, coupled with the wear, was the problem.

lateapex911 · 06-28-2005, 08:25 PM

HAve you jacked up the car and shaken the wheel? I haven't had a bad bearing on a 911, but it is the classic bearing check on most cars. If you feel play when you try to move the top and bottom in and out, you need to get in there and replace stuff.

nixter · 06-29-2005, 08:48 AM

Yeah, going to check that in the next day or 2 but honestly I'm begining to think it's my tires. They are old.

Tricky, is the sound really high pitched? Your Banshee comment is the best analogy I've heard to describe the sound! That's got to be it... tires!

Nik

Tricky D · 06-29-2005, 08:56 AM

Yes, annoyingly so. Almost had to wear ear plugs because it just seemed to resonate in the cabin. I had to listen to it driving from Virginia to Arizona. I just kept turning the stereo up louder and louder, and eventually my mind just tuned it out.

Like you, I thought I was losing wheel bearings. But after my friend (and shop-owner/wrench) looked at it, he ruled out the wheel bearings.

If you are able to do so, borrow someone else's tires for a quick spin to confirm the tires as the sources of the noise. It will most likely be the rears, as my fronts made no noise whatsoever.

Paulporsche · 06-29-2005, 09:11 AM

Sometimes the tire tread blocks will "feather" which is caused by a poor alignment (possibly toe) and will produce a squeal or even a whistle like sound @ various speeds.

nixter · 06-29-2005, 09:35 AM

Paul, noise is coming from the rear right tire.

Tricky, when you slowed down, at what speed did the noise go away? Mine goes away and about 5-10 kmph

Nik

911mot · 911mot's Garage

Does the tone of the squeal change with different road surfaces?
If it was tyres it should change with the change in surface.
A bearing can squeal like that but usually after it has collapsed and is causing something else to rub.
Another possibility is a stone caught somewhere between the disc and the backplate, or maybe a handbrake shoe retaining spring has dislodged itself and the shoe or the spring is now rubbing on the inside of the disc.
Best jack it up and start checking things.
Good luck.

Superman · 06-29-2005, 09:51 AM

I don't know whether it's a tire or not, but it could be. What I am saying is that squeals are typically rubber-related. Bearings howl/growl, but they don't squeal. At least not in my experience they don't.

Tricky D · 06-29-2005, 11:46 AM

The tone of my howling did not change with the road surface. It simply was there.

Re: speeds. When it first started, it would come in around 65 mph and leave around 75 mph. As the tires continued to wear, the inception speed slowly lowered. When I changed the tires, it was coming in around 50 mph and leaving around 85 mph.