P38 wheel bearing - how to test?

kooky_guy · Dec 30, 2010

Hi guys.

I've noticed that my P38 has developed a noticeable drone at speed. It sounds a bit like tyre noise but I'm sure it isn't. I've noticed that if I turn the steering wheel in either direction, the noise disappears. Does this sound like a wheel bearing?

Anyone have any tips on how to check them? I assume I will have to lift both front wheels but what am I looking for? Will there be a wobble in the wheel if the bearing is iffy?

Guy

jamesmartin · Dec 30, 2010

not allways jack wheel up and spin it

gavbriggs · Dec 30, 2010

they aint hard to do, get em off fleebay or take one out and go to friendly bearing supplier!!!

you will need a strong press tho!!!

blue beasty · Dec 30, 2010

if bearing is loose you'll feel wobble with the wheel is up and also check for rumble when spinning

kooky_guy · Dec 30, 2010

I've got a day free tomorrow to investigate which was why I was asking for tips. It sounds like a bearing but might it be something else in the axle? I seem to recall that there is a fair amount of backlash in both front wheels...

I thought changing the bearings was a right &=^%$ and the easiest option was to change the whole hub?

Not sure where to start investigating...

My xmas money isn't going to go very far at this rate! The radiator is leaking again now too (top pipe to expansion tank broken - previous repair failing)! Waaah!

I love my rangey but it certainly doesn't seem to be reciprocated. It must be female!

Guy

jorjio_k · Dec 31, 2010

hello.when i had a front bearing failure i had a continuous grinding moaning,and it wasn't fluctuating while cornering.
I had my rangy on 4 ramps,removed abs/traction relays and u couldn't believe the rumble it made.ended up replacing the bearing with the hub,and rumble went.
After 6 months i had another rumble that fluctuates with speed,put rangy on ramps again,and found out that the 2 rear bearings are knackered.
Guess when one bearing fails it won't take too much time 4 the other 3 to follow.
Good luck

kooky_guy · Jan 4, 2011

Well I couldn't find anything wrong with the fronts other than quite a lot of backlash between the front wheels.

It's intermittently shuddering on braking hard now too. Is that likely to be related?

I'm not sure how to describe the sound - it almost sounds like a wheel out of balance, although there isn't any vibration. I'm a bit baffled...

Anyone got any suggestions?

Guy

Bromsgrove Defender · Jan 4, 2011

kooky_guy said:
Well I couldn't find anything wrong with the fronts other than quite a lot of backlash between the front wheels.

It's intermittently shuddering on braking hard now too. Is that likely to be related?

I'm not sure how to describe the sound - it almost sounds like a wheel out of balance, although there isn't any vibration. I'm a bit baffled...

Anyone got any suggestions?

Guy

Have you checked to see if your brake discs and calipers are
a, not siezed.
b, actually loose.

??

kooky_guy · Jan 4, 2011

Bromsgrove Defender said:
Have you checked to see if your brake discs and calipers are
a, not siezed.
b, actually loose.

??

Umm, didn't even think of that... I'll check those asap.

Cheers.

Guy

hippolover · Jan 4, 2011

Check the steering damper while you're down there too.

kooky_guy · Jan 4, 2011

hippolover said:
Check the steering damper while you're down there too.

How do you check the damper? Unbolt one end and see if I can compress it?

Guy

hippolover · Jan 4, 2011

That's the way. Even take the whole thing off and check if it resists. Should resist both ways. You'll feel if it's goosed.

kooky_guy · Jan 5, 2011

I'll try that. It feels more drivetrain related though. Something's definitely not right - feels like there's some resistance somewhere too but I can't put my finger on it yet. I'll have to check the rear this weekend.

Guy

bmp42 · Jan 5, 2011

vcu locking? have had a few like that here, if not sure with wheel up in the air, remove front prop and see if it drives in 2 wheel drive

Bromsgrove Defender · Jan 5, 2011

kooky_guy said:
I'll try that. It feels more drivetrain related though. Something's definitely not right - feels like there's some resistance somewhere too but I can't put my finger on it yet. I'll have to check the rear this weekend.

Guy

Did you check all yr brakes Guy?

kooky_guy · Jan 5, 2011

bmp42 said:
vcu locking? have had a few like that here, if not sure with wheel up in the air, remove front prop and see if it drives in 2 wheel drive

I checked the VCU fairly recently and it seemed to pass the test, but the thought has crossed my mind, although that wouldn't account for the noise, would it?

Bromsgrove Defender - Not had a chance to check anything else yet - have to wait till the weekend. I like to try and think these things through before getting my hands dirty though so I can focus my puny investigative efforts! (Also it's more interesting than work at the moment!).

Creeping along in traffic this morning, the very low speed grumbling vibration it's always had (ie crawling speed) seemed to be worse, but that could be my imagination...

Guy

Bromsgrove Defender · Jan 5, 2011

kooky_guy said:
Bromsgrove Defender - Not had a chance to check anything else yet - have to wait till the weekend. I like to try and think these things through before getting my hands dirty though so I can focus my puny investigative efforts! (Also it's more interesting than work at the moment!).

Not having the opportunity to look is one thing but driving it you could have seen if she pulls up straight.

That may save you looking, checking every brake.

N.B. Empty road tho eh!

Bromsgrove Defender · Jan 5, 2011

Errr, Just out of curiosity is yr RR auto or manual ?

kooky_guy · Jan 5, 2011

Bromsgrove Defender said:
Not having the opportunity to look is one thing but driving it you could have seen if she pulls up straight.

That may save you looking, checking every brake.

N.B. Empty road tho eh!

Yup, pulls up straight, no problem (as demonstrated by my emergency stop to avoid a rabbit on the way home last night). It's an auto.

Bromsgrove Defender · Jan 5, 2011

kooky_guy said:
Yup, pulls up straight, no problem (as demonstrated by my emergency stop to avoid a rabbit on the way home last night). It's an auto.

Emergency stop to avoid a rabbit ..............

I love Rangie drivers.....................I'd have had for me tea

Not conclusive but the fact that it pulls up straight might rule out brakes sticking ..........on one side at least.
I'd still want to check everything was done up tight as it should tho. Discs and calippers.

Must confess I don't know much about auto's

Dont think you can free wheel em can you? to decide whether its before or after your gear box that you've got/may have a problem.

P38 wheel bearing - how to test?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads