I have been working on a vibration above 75 and a wandering issue for a few weeks now and have replaced: LCAs, inner/outer tie rods, and strut mounts.

A while back I had RX7 wheels with a 67.1 centerbore (ours is 66.1) on for a period WITHOUT hub-centric rings. The problems started during the period I had the wheels on and has remained (but to a lesser extent) with them off. During the entire period I have not been able to wiggle the tire at any position (had noticable play when I did DS wheel bearing). Can the bearings be shot without noticable play/excessive noise? I have definite wandering and inconsistant steering. Thanks for any help.

*edit* Car is currently on Z32 wheels, FD RX7 wheels were on for MAYBE two weeks or less than 200 miles.

 

you know, I'm wondering the same exact thing. I have a bad wheel bearing noise that varies proportionally to how fast the car is going. Every once in a while I get annoyed and jack up the front of the car to see if there is any play...and there isn't.

 

Same wheel/tire set pre and post FD wheels?

 

Two sets SE 16s no problem 2+years, RX7s, problem starts, SE 15s, then Z32s.

 

YES YES YES!! And you'll find that once you get the axle out sometimes the play will rear it's head, and than other times it won't rear it's head until you begin to drive the hub out.

 

Yea it can.... both front bearings on mine are bad but my wheels have a very little play in them....

 

Had a bearing go out on mine, the only noise it made was a low squeeling sound at about 5 mph. Other than that, i noticed nothing. I ended up destroying the hub. The hub cost me about $150. Then you need to get your bearings pressed in, another $30. Since you have the front end apart i would
fix both sides.
Replace the lower control arm bushings.
Replace the rack an pinion boots.
Replace the sway arm bushings.

 

YES. I have the faint squeal sound. Sounds like a brake hose rubbing on something.

I am planning on buying both bearings and hubs so I have them in case mine are fux0red. My first wheel bearing failure chewed the hell out of the hub and I ended up getting a whole spindle from a yard and pulling the hub and pressing it into my new bearing and original spindle.

NCSUMaxima mentioned he once had a spindle out of round that was trashing his bearings, is that related to heat or physical damage? I hope he can chime in and shed some light on what happened.

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

 

The spindle would have to get extremely hot to go out of round, and even then it's not likely. If anything it was a manufacturing defect. This would destroy the bearings by putting a repetitive uneven load on them. You'd be surprised how sensitive a bearing really is.

 

Yes that is possible. Also i would recomend replacing the hub as well when you replace the bearing. i say this because your hub could be bent and make noise as well.

 

I am looking at maybe the second week in October to do this and yes new hubs will be pressed in.

 

I have a low squeeling sound at 5 mph too after a long ride. What will happen if I don't replace the bearings ? How much the parts and labor cost ?

Thanks

 

I think i'm getting that too I usually listen to music pretty loud so that i don't hear it.) But with the stereo off, i think can hear a faint almost rubber-like squeaking noise when going slow.

 

Just had the same thing happen to my car. Was told it was my brakes but kept pushing the issue. The noise sounded like rubber grinding and squeeling. Finally checked the bearings and found the hub to be completely shot. Hubs about 170 and the bearing about 85(from nissan) Get to know the local dealers parts guys if you can. My parts guys give me a much better discount ( 105 and 40 respectively) since I've got a good repore with them. Dont let noises go unchecked to long! Hope that helps

 

I just spent $350 to have both replaced. Went out at 55,000 miles!!!!!! Way to soon IMHO. Passenger side went out again in 1000 miles??? Replaced again under warranty.

I still think makes noise.

 

Most definitely yes they can. And they don't always sound like a helicopter either.

..and fwiw, I did better diagnosis on my car than any of the shops I took my car to. Especially since it was an intermittent problem.

 

You're forgetting that age is just as bad as mileage, in fact alot of times very low mileage on an old car is worse than high mileage on that same vehicle, wheel bearings are a perfect example of this. Hint: Corrosion.

 

i have replaced both of my rear hub and both of my front bearings and i still got a thunmping sound coming from my wheels. i cant figure out wat it is and which wheel its coming from.

 

checkl the LCAs

 

wat do u mean by LCAs?
local california authorities?
leg cutting abilities?
last canadian *******ed?
left control arm?

 

lower control arms...
the bushings could be shot.
any other symtoms?