Wheel bearings shot but without any cyclic droning noise?

Clarkey

Clarkey

Clarkey

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
18,306
So, is this possible?

Basically, I have a heavy knocking noise from the front right, doesn't matter what speed, or whether driving on a smooth as glass surface.

I've had this before, every time I investigated it, the problem would go away and then come back after a few days. Eventually I replaced the brake pads and the noise went away and didn't come back for maybe 6 weeks, now it is back.

Now I've had the coilovers in bits and there's nothing to report there. It's had recent lower arms, bushes, tie rods/ends, all of them Meyle/HD (the noise was there before I changed all this stuff, and was exactly the same after).

So anyway, what I have noticed is there is play in both front wheels, both at 3/9 and 12/6. This would be indicative of knackered wheel bearings, right?
Previous experience of dead bearings is that they make a terrible droning/grumbling noise, but I don't have anything like that, only this constant knocking noise. What do you guys think, they are FUBAR?
 
I've had them go without noticable droning before but with play at 12/6 - I would expect the rest of the suspension components to keep the wheel stable at 3/9 though and wouldn't expect bearings to be capable of giving any kind of knock, have you checked / eliminated everything else?

Can't remember if it's a hub or individual bearing on the e36 but if you've already got a puller then it's a simple and cheap (if it's just the bearing) job that I'd probably just go ahead with if everything else has been checked.
 
checked all bushes and drop links, arb, wishbone etc ??
is it a one of knock or a repeated noise ?
Does it increase loudness/frequency with speed/engine speed ?
does pressing clutch make any difference ?
Could be a drive shaft ??
 
DogsBody said:
checked all bushes and drop links, arb, wishbone etc ??
is it a one of knock or a repeated noise ?
Does it increase loudness/frequency with speed/engine speed ?
does pressing clutch make any difference ?
Could be a drive shaft ??
Click to expand...

Definitely not a drive shaft if its at the front and a knocking isn't likely to be clutch related
 
Clarkey said:
Tyre is kind of in the way for that, but no noise can be heard when spinning the wheel.
Click to expand...

You can generally feel the problem long before you can hear it.

The advice I was given a long time ago by my trusted source (20+ years as an MOT tester) is similar to what westy said - spin the wheel and firmly hold either a piece of the suspension, or failing that press on the bodywork near to the wheel.
 
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