Is a wheel bearing damaged?

[Samson The Cat]

Hello. While driving home today I noticed a humming sound. It didn't come from the engine and depended on the speed of the car. In right hand bends it goes away. I heard that damaged wheel bearings cause a humming sound, but it is described as being very loud, while the humming I heard isn't. Another sign of broken wheel bearing is a hot nave, but I didn't find the temperature of any nave to be particularly high. The naves of the front wheels were a little bit warm, but that could have been because of the braking disks giving off heat.

Now what should I do? If I go to a repair shop and they don't find a thing in the garage, I just look dumb. Not that they tell me, it's just the driving noise of the winter tires. It doesn't sound like a driving noise at all. It's also definitely louder at 30km/h to 60km/h. But at higher speeds (100km/h) it's hard to notice at all - because of the driving noise of the tires.

What should I do? I only drive to work, but that's 70 km (single distance). I don't have small distances, so that I could see if it gets worse. I guess I'll have it checked tomorrow. Hopefully they have a diagnosis.

[MSFixR]

I had a strut break through it's mount once and it made a terrible noise when turning in the direction opposite to the broken strut because it was rubbing against the inside of the brake disk! When you turned in the other direction there was no noise at all.

[Samson The Cat]

Broken struts sounds dangerous!

I was at the repair shop today. They said it's a wheel bearing, but I can still drive as long as it doesn't get louder.

[Val]

Accept my apologises Samson!
I was in São Paulo watching the GP of Brazil. And I saw the stupid Rubinho looses the GP. Poor guy. He must take his drive license again.
And I took millions of pics to share.

Originally Posted by Samson The Cat

While driving home today I noticed a humming sound.

Man ...
The noise of a bearing when it is breaking is marvelous. Seems like a F1 engine.
But this is not good.
The bearing is telling you that it is in a final life. You must change it as soon as possible.

I think you should change this:

Homocinetique joint

And inside of it, there's the disgusting bearing, this one:



Some homocinetiques you can change just the bearing. Others no!!!
Well ... the bearing costs more or less 15 dollars.
But the joint 100 dollars.

One more time dude, I'm sorry to reply just now!

[Samson The Cat]

Originally Posted by Val

Accept my apologises Samson!

No need to apologize.

Originally Posted by Val

I think you should change this.

I had it repaired. But it was in the wheel bearing, not the joint, although that might have made a similar sound if broken. The humming is gone. It was replaced by a dragging sound. Obviously the brake disc needs to get used to the new bearing first.

The noise of a bearing when it is breaking is marvelous.

It was still quite quiet. Probably just one of the barrels (or balls) lost a bit of its surface - less than one mm.

the bearing costs more or less 15 dollars.

If only. The part did cost 240€! It's one unit complelety with the anti-lock-brake-sensor. Together with the work fees and an oil change, I had to pay 330€. Just last month new brake pads and the acceptance test (Technical Control Board) amounted to the same number. My car makes me poor!

Originally Posted by Val

I was in São Paulo watching the GP of Brazil.
[...]
And I took millions of pics to share.

That's nice to hear.

[Val]

Originally Posted by Samson The Cat

My car makes me poor!

hahahaha!!!!
But man ... after that, your car is new again.

Hey...

Did you sell your Vectra?
What car do you have today?

Talking about Vectra, I must do some maintance before my vacation on december.
But I'll share it here with us.

[Samson The Cat]

Sold the Vectra 19 months ago. I now have an Astra. I posted pictures back then.