T

twice_nightly

New Member
Seeing as the rainy season here in Lancashire stopped today, I decided to do my 'knackered' front wheel bearing. Trouble is I think I may have jumped the gun a bit in coming the the conclusion the wheel bearing was goosed.

The symptoms were, play when you held the road wheel at 12oclock and 6oclock, the wheel was hard to turn and made a grinding noise, the brake pedal 'pulsed' similar to ABS when pressed and I had a very strange wobbly feeling like the wheel nuts were loose and about to fall off.

So today I jacked the disco up and removed the wheel only to find that there was no play when you actually grasped the hub itself, it was rock solid. The hub was hard to turn because the brake pads were sticking on the brake disc and this was where the grinding noise was coming from, the caliper not from the centre of the hub as first thought.

So, I'm now thinking I've a stuck caliper, but where does this fit in with the wobbly handling and pulsing brake pedal? All the symptoms started at the same time by the way, so I'm assuming are all linked to one component.

I'm loathed to go to a garage and be ripped off, but I'm genuinely stuck as to what to do next?

Hope you can help, cheers.
 
I'd take the caliper off, the disc off and the hub, checking each bit as you go. Trouble is, if a wheel bearing has gone, as james says, you may not feel it by hand on the hub alone ..

It also depends which wheel, if it's front it could also be the CV is bust ..
 
you need to check with wheel on. but not just at 12 & 6 oclock but at 3 & 6 aswell if no play there then look at the ball joints.
 
If a piston in the caliper has seized there's gonna be a lot of heat that could cause the disc to warp which would explain the pulsing through the brake pedal

Robb
 
Is it worth taking the pads out and trying the push the pistons back in? Would this test for sure if the caliper is indeed seized?

I've got the wheel bearing kit and all the tools to do it, but looking at the rust on the caliper I'm fighting shy as I don't fancy my chances of getting the caliper bolts out! I suppose though if I do the bearing at least it would eliminate this should the problem still persist, although it would be a lot of time and effort for something that didn't need doing.
 
Paul D said:
I'd take the caliper off, the disc off and the hub, checking each bit as you go. Trouble is, if a wheel bearing has gone, as james says, you may not feel it by hand on the hub alone ..

It also depends which wheel, if it's front it could also be the CV is bust ..
Click to expand...


Thanks mate, looking like this is the only way to go...one bit at a time as you say.
 
the play could be in the top and bottom bearings on the swivel hub... really a case of put the wheel on and waggle it whilst looking for where the movement is.
 
pulsing brake pedal is normally shot rear discs, if the front ones are warped then you feel it through the steering wheel
 
What a can of worms this is turning out to be...arhhh

Had the chance to borrow the hydraulic lift for 5 mins today at a mates tyre garage so had a good look around underneath, found slight play in a frame ball joint, rubber donut is all split and the UJ on the front prop clicks and jumps around when you turn the prop.

As well as the pulsing brake pedal the feeling when you go over any slightly uneven road is that the disco is wagging it's back end, to put it politely your arse moves from side to side on the drivers seat!

Although I jumped to the conclusion it was the wheel bearing, this is looking more unlikely wouldn't you say? As Aston108 points out, I don't get any pulsing through the steering wheel, the feeling is via the brake pedal and drivers seat.

I'm inclined to think the front caliper may be stuck slightly but has been for some time and is not related to this issue? Unless anyone has another suggestion I think I'll start with replacing the easiest/cheapest part first and take it step by step....
 
kick in brake pedal is a symptom of poor wheel bearing as well as warped disc ,start with uj then doughnut then A frame ball joint
 
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