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There's nothing finer in life then car problems...everyone should experience it at some point in there lives.:gaah:
I have a roar in the back, i think it's a wheel bearing, it's continually getting louder. Does a bad bearing pose a safety risk if unchecked for a while? Don't have the time to fix it until a week or more from now...
Does the noise vary with the speed of the vehicle or with the speed of the engine? It could be the differential as well. If it varies with the speed of the vehicle, it's probably a wheel bearing going out. If it's loud, whatever the cause, you may have some time but not much.
Not really any saftey issue,the axel cannot fall off if the bearing fails,but if the bearing fails it will take out the axel, than the housing race,than the rear diff needs to be replaced, if the race gets really toasted. just becomes a matter of spend a little now, or alot later.
if the noise goes away on decelleration, than the rack and pinion gears may be toast.
You have not shared what the vehicle is. The advice given without specific details on the year make and model of the vehicle are shots on the dark.
Bad tire wear (cupping) can cause the same sort of noise. If you can swerve and the pitch changes it points to a bearing and not tires.
On a rear wheel drive a bad bearing can trickle into several other more expensive problems.
On a front wheel drive a bad rear bearings can erode quickly into serious safety issues in short order on some models...and sometimes they will howl for months without issues.
The safest course of action is to not drive it without solid advice from a qualified technician.
I could tell you all sorts of stories about bearings (good and bad).
I hope this helps, if you want to pm me with specifics, I'd be happy to try and help, but it's hard to be certain without inspecting it myself.
Another test of rear differential gear noise is if it changes pitch when you let off the go pedal.
Like previously mentioned. Without vehicle specifics we're guesstimating as best a blind guy could read the news ticker in Times Square.
I'm very sure it's a wheel bearing, rear in a drum brake style system. Mazda protege 2002. It gets louder with more speed and when turning away from that side the noise increases, turning puts pressure on that side and therefore more pressure on that bearing.
I think i got it nailed about what it is that is wrong but i was wondering about safety as i have to leave it for a while longer.
My dad once run a wheel bearing until the bearings literally fell out.
He once also ran that truck until a front brake pad fell off.
The bearing cost less than the tow.
Eric
I have seen that sort of bearing fail both ways (makes noise for months, and going catastrophically)
I could tell you stories...
Best action would be to discontinue use if possible. I have never seen one result in a wheel off, but I've seen one go bad fast enough to compromise a tire (allowed wheel to lean ~20 degrees and ate a tire off in a few miles). Surprisingly this case did not dégagé the brakes.
I found this link. Without being a Mazda expert I question that you can't press in a new bearing but believe the 1 hour time to put it in. Depending on your tools and skill level even if it takes 3 hours just replace it.
How To: Rear Bearing Protege - Mazdaspeed Forums
Exactly what he said. I would get it checked immediately can turn very serious or dangerous in very short order.Quote:
Originally Posted by unit
Ok is it odd when the car if jacked up to feel or hear no problems? Maybe just a little quite rubbing sound.
Not odd,you have no load on what ever is malfunctioning= no noise.Quote:
Originally Posted by 111Nathaniel
I think the car is front wheel drive which eliminate the rear gear issues. The drum brakes could also make the noise you describe if the wear indicators on the brake shoes on that side of the car are hitting the drums. If it is a wheel bearing be careful. If it is the outer bearing and the cage that holds the bearings breaks, the rear wheel can fall off.
Get it looked at.
The worst thing is if the bearing seizes; it will weld itself to the axel shaft, trust me from experience the only thing you can do if that happens is cut it out w/ a torch, or replace the entire axel assembly, which you might as well trade the car if it's more than 5 years old. Get them replaced as soon as possible. Then you need to check and repack grease in them about every 6-8,000 miles. Get the bearings checked, and have the differential fluid level checked as well. The roaring will get louder w/ time, and if it sounds like a scraping sound then there is metal to metal contact and you need to park the car asap.
Well, because personal liability I do not like advice but my two cents:
1. Wheel bearing can heat up to point that will start destroying other metal parts off the car (wheel bearing has one of the hardest metals) and wheel can fell off axle.
2. Fix is ASAP as you might end up with costly wheel hub replacement if you wait to long.
Br
With so many responses, one might think this was a Mazda forum!
I didn't see anyone mention jacking up that corner and physically moving the wheel with your hands. Have you done that? Being an FF (you don't have the AWD do you?), you should have no issue rotating the rear wheel and trying to jiggle it in directions. Also, if your not sure about the corner, jack up the others and check them as well.
My initial thought was e-brake disfunction in the drum. I thought these cars had disc rear with drum ebrake? With the car up, rotating the wheel and feeling the dull pressure in your hands might help diagnose that. Also, with the car down, try going in reverse a bit and using only the ebrake to slow to a stop. Likewise, reverse a bit and use regular brakes to stop. Hell, go forward and try stopping with only the ebrake. Feel anything weird with that, then maybe brakes. Reverse and ebrake is a good diagnoses of brake issues I feel.
To answer the actual question - I would still drive to work and back, but not much more. Be safe and provide a cushion for the traffic around you. Avoid freeway speeds if possible. Save some money so you can afford the repair. Some mechanics will drive your car for free and others will put it on the lift for free. Find those guys. =)
I once saw a wheel come off completly and rool by the car it was susposto be on. turns out wheel lock nut wasent put on lol man it was funny to see a tire passing a car thanfully no one was hurt.
I'll try to stop this thread before SRP becomes a mazda forum. But it would be cool to have a contest where people take a picture of themselves shaving WHILE driving!! The Bigspender didn't think of that one :D If you can do that ok i'd be ok with you talking on a cell phone.
First thing I did was to jack up the car and "feel" how things were. no wobble at all...yet. when you let it spin it "catches" on part of the rotation but still spins smooth while jacked up.
Ha! I've had thoughts about trying to shave while driving. Wet shaving even! They're not good thoughts.:gaah:Quote:
Originally Posted by 111Nathaniel
Hey, good that you jacked it up. About that 'catch'. If you're up to doing it again, note where the catch is. If it's in the same place in relation to your wheel each rotation, it would be related to your brakes I think or possibly something rubbing the hub, maybe even your dust shield got bent into something. If it was a bearing, because those rotate independently of the wheel (well, at a different rate anyway) then the 'catch' spot will rotate to different places in relation to the wheel. I'm hoping it's your brakes just so that it's affordable, possibly DIY even.
I have a wheel bearing replacement coming up this summer on my car, along with putting on new rotors. I bought all the OEM parts and bought a 20 ton Harbor Freight press. There are youtube videos on doing the work but shops do this stuff all the time. My car is a 2002 Honda Accord with 186K miles. Best to replace both bearings (left and right) at the same time.