Hum/vibration + top/bottom movement = wheel bearing?

jbserra · 06-01-2017, 10:23 AM

I don't drive the car often, but at times there is a hum or vibration from the front. I always feel it on the passenger side.

Just got the car up in the air for new tires and I can move both front wheels a small deflection top to bottom. It appears the rotor also moves with this movement. Is this wheel bearing most likely?

How bad are they to replace?

Thanks!

Slanski62 · 06-01-2017, 10:54 AM

I don't know if a bearing is the cause of your problem, but I can share with you my experience as a first-timer what it's like to change them. Send me a pm if you want to chat.

Steve Yeatts
Chapel Hill, NC

Queefchief · 06-01-2017, 01:18 PM

Not bad to replace at all, you can always pull your front hub off and check your bearings to make sure they aren't broken or anything crazy. Id then clean and re-grease them if you can and put it back together making sure you have the front hub nut tightened down to spec and recheck it.

jbserra · 06-05-2017, 10:56 AM

Thanks for the responses. I didn't realize there was an adjustment for the wheel bearings, so I gave it a shot. Tightening things up did not remove the wobble, so I'm waiting on replacement bearings. Old ones don't look damaged, but they must be worn. I have both hubs off and will work on getting the races out once I get a new torch head (old one broke).

Discseven · Discseven's Garage

JB... year & model & mileage are of interest.

jbserra · 06-05-2017, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discseven

JB... year & model & mileage are of interest.

Good point.

1987 911 cabriolet

Flojo · Flojo's Garage

there is a spec to "tighten" the wheel bearing up front. big washer must move up down just snug.
it will allow the wheel to tilt slightly when moved top to bottom. that's normal.

as the G is generally known to let you feel every ant on the road, be aware that it might be the road itself giving you weird feels or sounds.

how are the tires?

how's the bottom ball joint (below strut)?

brighton911 · 03:07 AM

And also check the spindle for wear. It's a common problem for the spindle to wear on the bottom surface where the outer bearing rides. The wear will give the same symptom as you described and the clue is over tightening the bearing ( a bad idea) does not remove the play. It's worth checking out, hopefully in your case, it was just an adjustment of the bearing.

T77911S · 06-06-2017, 03:08 AM

check the lower ball joint at the bottom of the strut.
bad wheel bearings are usually noisy.
I would "over tighten" the wheel bearing then check the lower Bjoint.

jbserra · 06-06-2017, 07:57 AM

Tires were in good shape. Fairly new.

I'm installing new tires to match new rears I just purchased so I will have brand new tires up front this season. I'm thinking I'm going to replace one side and see if the movement changes at all. If it does, I'll do both. If it doesn't, then I just learned how to replace wheel bearings for fun :-)

jbserra · 06-27-2017, 06:23 AM

Since I don't have any history on repairs, shotgun approach seemed to work :-)

New wheel bearings. Tie rod ends and ball joints were all torn boots, so replaced all of them too. Threw in caliper piston seals too since those were destroyed. I didn't even know those were a replaceable part.

Drove it to work today. Nice and smooth. I didn't feel or hear any vibration up front. I think we're good for now!

Probably should've replaced the bushings on the arms too just because, but they appeared to be in ok shape. Next time...

Thanks!