wheel bearing noise

[tja623]

Does anybody else get and continuous wheel bearing type noise from the front end ? I own a 2006 M35x, and I have replaced both front wheel bearings twice, the second time with Timken hub bearings, yet I still keep hearing a similar noise. (The rear wheel bearings have also been replaced recently.) I am sure I torqued everything properly and I am a professional technician. I just cannot seem to lose this whirring sound from the front, passenger side of the vehicle. Checked the tires, rotated them "just in case", but cant seem to find it. I am beginning to think it may be the front drive shaft of the all wheel drive system. Any thoughts or experiences???

[Brian35XR]

i thought i had a bad wheel bearing 1 time even though everything was tight.. it was making the "vv...vv...vv" noise. replaced the wheel bearing and still doing it. just turned out to be bad tires!! cheap a** milestars...

[tja623]

I was thinking about the possibility of tire noise as well when I was driving in to work this morning. The tires themselves are about 18 months old, Goodyear Eagle GT's, maybe a belt in the tire broke or my alignment is off. The alignment could be out of whack from the numerous potholes created this winter, which also could be the reason the wheel bearings failed. Will check into it this weekend.
I appreciate the input, and look forward to reading more.

[jiggersplat]

@tja623 i'm about to replace my front bearings/hubs. i see some for $45 on rock auto and then they have another set that includes the abs sensor for $80. how much of a PITA is it to swap the ABS sensors over?

[tja623]

Hey jiggersplat, the ABS sensor is very easy to remove. 1 bolt , and pull/slide it out of the way (which you must do in order to remove bearing assembly without damaging the ABS sensor). No need to replace ABS sensor with wheel bearing. However I did look at what Rock Auto is offering. I believe the ABS sensor they are talking about is the ABS ring built into the bearing itself, which they all should have. That ring is what the actual ABS sensor gets its signal from-small notches in the ring pass by the sensor at various speeds , telling the sensor/ECU how fast each wheel is moving. The difference is the QUALITY of the bearing. Trust me, go with the better brand, OEM or Timken. These wheel/hub bearings are prone to damage especially if you hit a large pothole at high speed....Then the infamous howling begins. $80 is the average price for the proper wheel/hub bearing assembly.

[jiggersplat]

These wheel/hub bearings are prone to damage especially if you hit a large pothole at high speed....Then the infamous howling begins.

You're tellin' me. I bent a rim and blew out a bearing.

[mexillis]

Have you checked to see if the pads are rubbing on the rotors?

[jiggersplat]

No but the noise is worse when going around a corner so it's not likely to be a brake issue.

[MaxBolus]

Hi-
been following this as I recently had my front bearings replaced (Y34) and still hear noise. It is quieter but still there.
Was still running my snow tires, so wanted to wait until I got my summers on before posting. There was definitely tread noise from the snows, but I still hear what seems like bearing noise. It gets loudest between 15-35 mph, and seems to diminish at higher speeds. No difference cornering or braking (as I had before bearing replacement). It's kind of a constant, low-level howling.
(also had new rotors/pads installed at the same time. *Could* be brakes, but I've never heard this sound from brakes before.)
I wondered if I am maybe more sensitive to it now. Maybe these are just Noisy By Nature? (good name for a band, maybe?)

-m

[tja623]

You are correct in thinking that this is NOT likely a brake issue. I have the same problem, I believe its my tire. I wonder if I damaged a belt or something when the bearing went bad. Still not sure what killed the bearing in the first place, but likely it was the various potholes all over Maryland from the past winter. So I am wondering if I broke a belt or something. I will be rotating the tires and doing a front end alignment to see if that helps. Will keep you posted.

[jiggersplat]

I replaced my bearing last weekend. Took me maybe 3 or 4 hours. Would have been less if I hadn't had to go rent a three-jaw puller to get the hub assembly out and then put the replacement hub in upside-down the first time. If you're not paying attention and put it in upside-down, you won't be able to get the wheel speed sensor in.

@MaxBolus Some tires will get louder as they wear, especially if they wear unevenly. Make sure you rotate them frequently.

[tja623]

Indeed, The proper tools will make life much easier, but sometimes you just gotta make do with what you have.
Now don't get too upset when I tell you this....
The upside down scenario...well...not entirely true..You see, that ring around the hub that has the slots for the wheel speed sensor, it can rotate with the proper use of a hammer and a punch or screwdriver. Just tap it and watch it rotate around until you get it into position for the sensor to easily slide through....I know how you feel. Ask me how I learned that lesson...Maybe you can take refuge in the fact that lessons learned the HARD way are not easily forgotten.

[jiggersplat]

I tried to rotate the ring on the old one that was out of the car and didn't seem to want to spin. Oh well...

[Wangtang408]

My front left wheel has been howling and shaking, now it starting to grind when I come to a complete stop.
Brought to a shop yesterday and they confine that it's the bearing. They will replace it today and see if the sounds goes away.
I had smacked a curb pretty hard and previously replaced the lower control arm and shock/strut on the same wheel (front driver side)

[Wangtang408]

My front left wheel has been howling and shaking, now it starting to grind when I come to a complete stop.
Brought to a shop yesterday and they confine that it's the bearing. They will replace it today and see if the sounds goes away.
I had smacked a curb pretty hard and previously replaced the lower control arm and shock/strut on the same wheel (front driver side)

Got the car back, wheel bearing replaced, problem fixed!