Is One Of My Wheel Bearings Knackered?

[Guest TSL 333]

 

Was up at Knockhill for the Hot Hatch day (came home early as you will see from the post time) for the following reason:

 

Coming out of the hairpin (RHS/ clockwise) and there was a sudden 'bump/ snap ' noise came from the r/n/s wheel. Immediately, we were expecting to see the wheel sitting diagonally with it fouling the arch. Instead, when we got out for a look, it looked fine. I wobbled it from side to side and there is a little play. To drive it, especially round RHS bends, there is a serious grinding noise.

 

As a result, we drove home slowly - 45 mph!!! (with my bro. following in his 106GTI ) and got home fine (with the grinding noise not getting much worse if at all.)

 

So would my diagnosis of knackered wheel bearing(s) be correct? And if this is the case, is this easy to fix for a DIY type person like me. If so, should I buy Peugeot bearings and are they expensive. Is anything else likely to be damaged?

 

Cheers in advance!!!

[hengti 2]

this is worth checking out, as it won't take long :

 

check the tyre for flat spots. if you've been locking up under braking, you may have flat spotted the tyre - makes a real din

 

probably isn't the cause from the sounds of what you've written, but worth checking

 

 

edit : check the brakes thoroughly as well

Edited March 19, 2006 by hengti

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

Take the wheel off and check the ARB end plate bolt hasnt come off, and check brakes and make sure the beam all moves freely etc.

[Guest TSL 333]

Take the wheel off and check the ARB end plate bolt hasnt come off, and check brakes and make sure the beam all moves freely etc.

 

ARB? When you say the beam, what beam are you refering to?

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

Anti Role Bar, Rear Beam. Check the main site for the rear beam guide.

[Dream Weaver 2]

Assuming its a 1.9, check the discs/pads as well.

[Guest TSL 333]

Assuming its a 1.9, check the discs/pads as well.

 

It is a 1.6 GTI on an F plate (1988) so has drums.

[Guest TSL 333]

It was suggested to me today that a brake lining could have become detached from the shoe and that this is a common problem with these cars. Come to think of it, on the moments leading up to the failure, there was a squeak when braking which was not there before and the cars brakes were locking up enevenly..........what do you guys think - could this be the problem - I will be having a butchers tomorrow anyway..

Edited March 24, 2006 by TSL 333

[aeinstein 0]

i would be inclined to go with the diagnosis of wheel bearing, what with the grinding noise, being louder on one corner and not the other, and the wheel play.

 

never heard of one going with a snap, they normally whistle, hum, then grind, but a spectacular part failure is not inconceivable.

 

thats this weekend taken up then... good luck hunting it down.

 

al

[Guest TSL 333]

i would be inclined to go with the diagnosis of wheel bearing, what with the grinding noise, being louder on one corner and not the other, and the wheel play.

 

never heard of one going with a snap, they normally whistle, hum, then grind, but a spectacular part failure is not inconceivable.

 

thats this weekend taken up then... good luck hunting it down.

 

al

 

When wheel bearings have gone in the past, it has, as you suggested been a progressive thing.......

[Guest TSL 333]

Well, stripped it down today and I was right, the wheel bearing was totally knackered; halved bearings etc!!! This is unusual as in the past when this has happened to me, there has been a slight hum, which has turned to a growl and then I have replaced the bearings. Anyway, the old one basically fell out as it was so knackered. I just got a new set £25ish. I refered to my Haynes manual for replacement. Fack - sems this is a specialist area which is best entrusted to the garage. This is fine as I can just take the drum mdown to the garage, however is there an easy way of doing it on the driveway?

 

BTW, I noticed that the main nut which holds the drum on was VERY tight. In the past when I have undertaken this exercise (Mk 2 Fiestas) I did the bolts finger tight, then gave a half turn. What is the correct procedure here? Could the tight nut have been the case of this dramatic failure?

Edited March 25, 2006 by TSL 333

[aeinstein 0]

BTW, I noticed that the main nut which holds the drum on was VERY tight. In the past when I have undertaken this exercise (Mk 2 Fiestas) I did the bolts finger tight, then gave a half turn. What is the correct procedure here? Could the tight nut have been the case of this dramatic failure?

 

don't know if they're all meant to be like that, i've been stripping the beam that i got from the scrappy today, and i need the drums off to remove the remains of the handbrake cable which was just chopped, (like i said in a previous post, it took him about 2 minutes to take the beam off...)

and one of the hubnuts is so tight i can't move it. i haven't checked the other yet.

 

al

[Dan Ingram 1]

I think the rear bearings need to be on as tight as possible. I could be wrong.

[Guest TSL 333]

Cheers guys, however could someone please confirm if the replacement of the wheel bearings is a specialist job? The drum is off and I will simply drop this off at the garage to be repaired if it is not a DIY job. The Haynes manual says a specialist tool is required and this is best entrusted to the Peugeot Dealer (or similair?)

[base-1 17]

Probably means a hydraulic press, wouldn't have thought anything else would be needed? And check the Haynes manual for the torque setting for that hubnut - I should think it's meant to be bloody tight

[Guest TSL 333]

The drum is at the garage just now getting the wheel bearings changed. Once I get the drim back, I will put it on to the manufacturers spec - FT - F*cking tight!!!

[base-1 17]

Hubnuts are usually VFT

[Rippthrough 98]

Hubnuts for drums are 130lbft IIRC.

You can push the bearings in yourself with a decent spanner set, a hefty nut +bolt and a bowl full of weetabix. Haynes reckon need a couple of tons of pressure IIRC

Edited March 29, 2006 by Rippthrough

[Guest TSL 333]

All sorted gents. I actually posted under a seperate heading/ thread this morning to get a faster response as I had a few teathing problems. All sorted now - 2 weeks before the net track outing!!!! Cheers to all who posted. Have a nice weekend!!!