Tremor From Front Wheels

MetzgerMeister

Well lads,

I've been getting a loud rumbling noise/tremor from the front wheels of my car for a while now. It's very noticeable going over bumps and often when turning.

The car is a 2004 Mazda RX8 with 75,000 km on the clock.

I'm wondering if it's the bearings have collapsed or could it be something else?

Cheers.

shedweller

Jack up the front and spin the wheel. Also grab the top and bottom and try rock the wheel to simulate a side load. If it grinds while spinning, the bearing is finished. If the wheel rocks then the bearing is worse and needs immediate work.

kuro_man

sounds like a worn CV joint

MetzgerMeister

kuro_man wrote: »

sounds like a worn CV joint

It's a rear wheel drive car.

SilverBell

+1

shedweller wrote: »

Jack up the front and spin the wheel. Also grab the top and bottom and try rock the wheel to simulate a side load. If it grinds while spinning, the bearing is finished. If the wheel rocks then the bearing is worse and needs immediate work.

MetzgerMeister

I've just had another thought. Could it be that the nuts aren't torqued enough or not on tight enough?

af_thefragile

If its above certain speed, it could be wheel balancing. But it gets worse the faster you go.

If its all the time, it sounds like bearings.

MetzgerMeister

af_thefragile wrote: »

If its above certain speed, it could be wheel balancing. But it gets worse the faster you go.

If its all the time, it sounds like bearings.

Now that you say it, the last time I got the wheels balanced, they stuck the weights on with double-sided foam tape which have since come off (on all the wheels). They used use a black tar-looking glue but not anymore.

I'll exhaust all the cheap fixes first

af_thefragile

Bad wheel balance will very characteristically manifest itself by a vibration above a certain speed and gets worse as you drive faster.
My car used to vibrate above 90kmph and used to feel like its about to fall apart over 110kmph.

If your car is vibrating all the time, then I doubt its wheel balance issue. Still no harm getting it checked. Its cheaper than changing the bearing.

Though if the bearing is gone you should also be able to hear a whoosing/grinding noise from the end of the car (where the bearing is gone) when you're driving along.

MetzgerMeister

Right, thanks for that.

I think what I'll do is try a few things myself and if they don't work I'll bring it to my mechanic for him to have a look at.

Problem is I always have to drop it out to him the night before and be without a car for the next day! That's why I'm trying the easy things first.

af_thefragile

Actually you did say you're getting a rumbling noise so very likely sounds like wheel bearings to me.

As shedweller said, you can check it out by jacking up the front and spinning the wheels. Listen closely to where the noise is coming from. You can even try shaking the wheel and see if it moves.

Also would be a good time to check all the suspension mounting bushes, wishbones, ball joints, anti roll bars, and see if they're worn out. Give them all a good shake and see if they move. Could also stick a screw driver in and use some leverage to note any excessive movement in the joints (a little movement (few mms) is normal). If so it could also be that you need new bushes.

MetzgerMeister

I think I might have solved the problem without leaving the office!

Read on an owners forum that there was a TSB to increase the torque on the nuts to 147Nm.

I'll try this when I get home. af, stop trying to make me give money to mazda

af_thefragile

Its always good to check everything is working good now isn't it!

MetzgerMeister

Ah yeah I know what you mean, I just want to fix this at the moment. Finished paying for the car this month so then saving for a complete service of all the things you mentioned, if neccessary. Don't wanna do them myself

MetzgerMeister

UPDATE:

Well I torqued the wheels nuts to 147Nm and it seems to have worked.

Hope I don't have to get bearings! They are pressed into the hubs which means I would have to buy new hubs at €270+VAT each :O

af_thefragile

einheisserschre wrote: »

UPDATE:

Well I torqued the wheels nuts to 147Nm and it seems to have worked.

Hope I don't have to get bearings! They are pressed into the hubs which means I would have to buy new hubs at €270+VAT each :O

You won't need to buy new hubs. You can take the old hubs to a garage or something and they should be able to press in the new bearings for you... Much cheaper than buying new hubs.

MetzgerMeister

af_thefragile wrote: »

You won't need to buy new hubs. You can take the old hubs to a garage or something and they should be able to press in the new bearings for you... Much cheaper than buying new hubs.

Yeah I've thought of that. Thing is, that'll only happen if I can get them spurious. Mazda don't sell them as a separate part to the hub. They're pressed in with a kind of hydraulic machine with loads of pressure aren't they?

Divorce Referendum

einheisserschre wrote: »

Yeah I've thought of that. Thing is, that'll only happen if I can get them spurious. Mazda don't sell them as a separate part to the hub. They're pressed in with a kind of hydraulic machine with loads of pressure aren't they?

Ya its the same on my ford focus about 200 quid so a bit cheaper. The abs is built in to the hub.