I probably should have failed tech. . .

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

When you grab the tire at the top, and shake, and it clicks back and forth, that is a sign of a bad wheel bearing, correct? It also rattles as you drive it, and there is no real change whether you are turning or not. In fact, it seems to actually be a bit quieter/rattle less frequently when cornering.

I took it to a shop here in Sanford today and they said "I think its something with your strut, that strut has almost no give to it". I tried to explain that the Koni's are pretty damn stiff struts as is, and that I had already checked all bolts on the strut. I'm about to just take it back and say "just replace the wheel bearing, trust me" but wanted to be pretty sure of that being the problem. I suppose it could also be CV related, but that would tend to be louder when turning, not quieter right? This shops diagnostic skills clearly aren't that great, but they are damn cheap (quoted me $100 to change the wheel bearing). Am I correct in my diagnosis? It doesn't really groan or grind or anything.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:54 pm

Jack that corner up, put both hands on it and see if you can feel the play.

That will tell you what's up.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 3:13 pm

I would agree with Ryan. If you jack it up and have play in the wheel/hub, then I would think it would be the bearings. Bad CV should not generate play in the wheel/hub.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 3:25 pm

Bad Wheel Bearings. Don't worry about 'em. :lol:

Frank Catena · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:08 pm **Posts:** 418

Probably bearings. Jack it up, remove the wheel. Turn the hub with a stethoscope (thin rubber hose) held to the hub and your ear. I bet you'll hear the bad bearing as you turn the hub.

Frank

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 5:04 pm

Heck, Brice, if you've found a place that's willing to change the wheel bearing for $100, I'd have them do both front wheel bearings anyway. IIRC, you mentioned that your 3 has 100K miles on it or thereabouts? If it were mine, I'd jump on that and have them do both of them. That's not much more than what a dealer would charge for an hour of labor before parts.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Having seen pictures of a hub imploding and how physics takes over, I want nothing to do with having a bad hub on my car. And this happened to a car on street tires.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:01 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

Having seen pictures of a hub imploding and how physics takes over, I want nothing to do with having a bad hub on my car. And this happened to a car on street tires.

Having been within about 100 feet of the above described car when it returned to the surface of the earth after becoming airborn, I'm with Wes. Bad wheel bearings = replace as soon as possible.

It was Dave O'Maley's ST Civic, for anyone wondering who we're talking about. The car landed hard enough on its back right corner that the passenger door no longer closes properly. He's shopping for a replacement chassis.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:43 am

Holy crap!!!! ^

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:54 am

damn i just thought it broke and fell off not that is exploded and played superfly with the car!!!

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:21 am

Holy Cr@p! Those pictures should be in a PSA for the club.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

bearing is on the way from Rock auto, I decided to go ahead and do it myself to learn a thing or two, since I'm probably gonna need to replace the other side before too long. Anybody know a place that will press the old bearing out and the new one in for cheap?

I guess you just start have to replacing things when a car hits 115,000 miles. I'm wondering what else I should plan on. I've already replaced one of the motor mounts, I'll probably need to do the others. Rear trailing arm bushings are on the list of things to do, probably control arm bushings and front sway bar bushings (rears were replaced w/ urethane fairly recently).

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:27 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

I guess you just start have to replacing things when a car hits 115,000 miles.

115,000 miles on a bearing...in my dreams! I've one that lasted one 30 minute track session.

On my Z-24 I've changed at least 20 if not more, but mine are entire hub assemblies, not just a bearing.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:25 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

bearing is on the way from Rock auto, I decided to go ahead and do it myself to learn a thing or two, since I'm probably gonna need to replace the other side before too long. Anybody know a place that will press the old bearing out and the new one in for cheap?

I don't know if they're cheap, but T Hoff should be able to do that.

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I probably should have failed tech. . .

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