Thread: Car Problems.

There's nothing finer in life then car problems...everyone should experience it at some point in there lives.

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

Originally Posted by unit

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.

Exactly what he said. I would get it checked immediately can turn very serious or dangerous in very short order.