Identifying chirpy wheel bearing
Discussion
Mazda MX5 2009
Hi all, I can't work out which corner it is!
It started last summer on the way back from a road trip to Italy. A chirping noise when up to speed. I was convinced it was on the right hand side of the car (I drove) and the Mrs was convinced it was the left.
I speculated whether the noise would persist when we reached the uk and got back on the correct side of the road. Low and behold, the noise went away..
Until now. It has come back. The car doesn't do many miles but I want it fixed, there's a couple of track days lined up and I don't want a sudden failure.
How do I find out which one to replace? They all feel roughly the same temperature.
Do I wait until it's a constant squeal and the location is unmistakable?
Any thoughts would be welcome.
Cheers
Hi all, I can't work out which corner it is!
It started last summer on the way back from a road trip to Italy. A chirping noise when up to speed. I was convinced it was on the right hand side of the car (I drove) and the Mrs was convinced it was the left.
I speculated whether the noise would persist when we reached the uk and got back on the correct side of the road. Low and behold, the noise went away..
Until now. It has come back. The car doesn't do many miles but I want it fixed, there's a couple of track days lined up and I don't want a sudden failure.
How do I find out which one to replace? They all feel roughly the same temperature.
Do I wait until it's a constant squeal and the location is unmistakable?
Any thoughts would be welcome.
Cheers
"chirpy" doesn't sound like a noise I would expect of a wheel bearing, are you sure it isn't something catching around the wheel/disc?
It also doesn't give enough of a description to help out much, so exactly when does it happen, is it related to wheel speed, is it worse when cornering, anything else to help?
If it is a wheel bearing they generally make a rumbling/whining type noise and that noise will increase/decrease in intensity when cornering.
If worse when turning right it is generally on the left, although you will have to work out whether it is front or rear from inside the car.
It also doesn't give enough of a description to help out much, so exactly when does it happen, is it related to wheel speed, is it worse when cornering, anything else to help?
If it is a wheel bearing they generally make a rumbling/whining type noise and that noise will increase/decrease in intensity when cornering.
If worse when turning right it is generally on the left, although you will have to work out whether it is front or rear from inside the car.
As per replies above, yes my first guess would be something brake disc/pad or backing plate etc related.
As well as spinning the wheel, comparing visually left to right for any gap differences might help - it was how I realised that some retaining clip was a cause on one car.
Spotting which wheel bearing should be obvious - except to me! Whenever I try to diagnose by loading/unloading through turns etc I keep thinking I'm hearing different things.
The best tip that I've seen (although maybe car dependant?) is to jack up and spin a wheel - keeping a long metal screwdriver/spanner touching the spring - and an ear near the other end. The amplified sounds are then much easier to hear.
As well as spinning the wheel, comparing visually left to right for any gap differences might help - it was how I realised that some retaining clip was a cause on one car.
Spotting which wheel bearing should be obvious - except to me! Whenever I try to diagnose by loading/unloading through turns etc I keep thinking I'm hearing different things.
The best tip that I've seen (although maybe car dependant?) is to jack up and spin a wheel - keeping a long metal screwdriver/spanner touching the spring - and an ear near the other end. The amplified sounds are then much easier to hear.
Bainbridge said:
I'll check each wheel while they're up off the ground with my new mechanic's stethoscope which I've had for ages but not used.
Ohh posh
Don't forget though that without weight on the wheel it is not an absolute test as frequently the weight on the bearing is what causes the noie, at least in the early stages.Ohh posh
Well I spent a few hours looking at the front of the car and the front bearings have no play and appear to turn smoothly, albeit with no weight on the car.
I removed the front discs and pads and while dirty, nothing was abnormally worn or jammed, apart from an unswept area covering a quarter of the outside of one of the discs.
So I cleaned up the discs with a copper wire wheel while they were out, gave the pads a light sanding and reassembled.
Everything is working fine with no hint of that funny noise, though it did seem to surface on long drives previously.
I did notice the signs of a tiny fluid leak on one of the calipers, just enough to darken a small area of dirt below the caliper piston (little one pot calipers). So that'll need doing before the MOT test.
Also the metal pad fittings that hold the pads within the caliper body are original and have been cleaned up multiple times. It's really easy to change pads but maybe too easy now, as in they might be worn and allow some vibration when hot. Also one of the calip slider boots is cracked and needs replacing, but the caliper moves smoothly. Replacements ordered.
She's 17 years old now on 98k miles and while I try and look after it, she does get driven hard like an mx5 should.
I removed the front discs and pads and while dirty, nothing was abnormally worn or jammed, apart from an unswept area covering a quarter of the outside of one of the discs.
So I cleaned up the discs with a copper wire wheel while they were out, gave the pads a light sanding and reassembled.
Everything is working fine with no hint of that funny noise, though it did seem to surface on long drives previously.
I did notice the signs of a tiny fluid leak on one of the calipers, just enough to darken a small area of dirt below the caliper piston (little one pot calipers). So that'll need doing before the MOT test.
Also the metal pad fittings that hold the pads within the caliper body are original and have been cleaned up multiple times. It's really easy to change pads but maybe too easy now, as in they might be worn and allow some vibration when hot. Also one of the calip slider boots is cracked and needs replacing, but the caliper moves smoothly. Replacements ordered.
She's 17 years old now on 98k miles and while I try and look after it, she does get driven hard like an mx5 should.
All the Japanese cars (they're not alone) i've worked on would benefit from a full strip clean inspect and lube up of the brakes at least every other year, including exercising the pistons in their bores several times.
Even with meticulous maintenance 18 years if the vehicle sees wet and especially salt weather use is good going, i had to replace the 4 piston front calipers on my Prado at 17/18 years, its always the inner lower piston which starts to seize on those.
Lubing of the parts seems to be a personal thing, some think its good others don't due too attracting dirt, i'm a luber.
OP did you check the rears too?
Even with meticulous maintenance 18 years if the vehicle sees wet and especially salt weather use is good going, i had to replace the 4 piston front calipers on my Prado at 17/18 years, its always the inner lower piston which starts to seize on those.
Lubing of the parts seems to be a personal thing, some think its good others don't due too attracting dirt, i'm a luber.
OP did you check the rears too?
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