MK2.5 front wheel bearing
Discussion
What makes you think a bearing is failing? It's pretty rare unless the wheel has taken a knock.
You should be able to hear a rough rumbling noise when you drive and it should get louder when you turn one direction. The bad bearing would be on the side you are turning away from (i.e. the one that is taking more weight as you turn). You should be able to hear if it's front or rear - it's usually front.
You should be able to hear a rough rumbling noise when you drive and it should get louder when you turn one direction. The bad bearing would be on the side you are turning away from (i.e. the one that is taking more weight as you turn). You should be able to hear if it's front or rear - it's usually front.
Also, if it's worn enough to be noisy you should be able to feel some play in the wheel. Get the car up on axle stands and give each wheel a good hard rock side to side and top to bottom. If you can feel any looseness at all then the bearing will be worn (or the bushes are knackered). Don't try this just on a jack.
Thought I had a wheel bearing on the way out a while back, but upon investigation the noise vanished when the car was jacked up to spin the wheel round by hand.
Turned out that the tyre was so out of round/flat-spotted/generally shagged that it was creating quite similar symptoms.
Turned out that the tyre was so out of round/flat-spotted/generally shagged that it was creating quite similar symptoms.
Edited by GravelBen on Monday 8th June 09:52
I colleague of mine had front wheel bearing go recently at 38k mile on his 2004 2.5 sport - fortunately the main dealer he bought it from covered it under warranty - the part cost over £200 for the bearing and hub assembly. He had no play at the wheel but it rumbled a bit. He jacked the car up, removed the wheel - backed off the pads a touch which allowed the hub to spin freely - and the bearing was running rough.
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff