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Pinpointing bad wheel bearing location.


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Posted

Issue: Faint vibration in the pedals and dash coming from the front of the vehicle at approx. 40+mph. Surging cruise, can put the car in neutral and issue will continue just coasting. At highways speeds, I can slightly drift to the right and the noise/vibration increases, and when I drift to the left the noise/vibration disappears.

 

Situation: New rotors and pads up front, new driver's side CV axle and passenger's side is in good shape. Alignment and tires are good.

 

Background: Bought this car a few weeks ago, it had this issue but it was VERY faint and at the time it needed tires and brakes really bad so a bad bearing didn't come to mind. Well I've taken care of all those other things, and reading through the wheel bearing threads my symptoms match all the others word for word. I took it to a local tire shop and asked if they could check it out, to which the tech told me he could feel some play in the rear passenger bearing but no where else. I told him that you probably won't feel anything because these aren't those types of bearings. After I explained that everything I am feeling and hearing is coming from the front of the vehicle all he said he could do was charge me $98 bucks an hour to get it on the diagnostic rack, to which I said no thanks. I'm going to check the rear right myself tomorrow, because if there is actual play in that damn thing then I probably shouldn't be driving it at all. In any case, anyone have any idea how to pinpoint which side it is if not both?

 

Thanks for any and all help.

Posted
I'd take the car to a dealer and see if they find a bad bearing and ask SOA for warranty help. I'm not sure SOA will still cover you, but many of us learned SOA knows they had a problem and will replace a bad wheel bearing (rear) up to 100,000 miles.
Posted
Have someone else drive and sit in all 4 positions and listen for which one is the loudest. Using a stethoscope can help too. (Experience: replaced 3 wheel bearings in 1 year span on my legacy)

23 WRX - Stock / De-Crosstreked

05 LGT 16G 14psi 290whp/30mpg (SOLD) / 12 OBP Stock 130whp/27mpg@87 Oct / 00 G20t GT28r 10psi 250whp/36mpg

Posted
jack up the car full on 4 jack stands. Start the car and put the car in gear to get the wheels spinning. then carefully go under the car and put a long screwdriver to each of the hub knuckles while putting you ear on the end of the screw driver handle. you will be able to hear which bearing is making the noise. basically a poor mans stethoscope trick.
Posted
Do what covertrussian say's, that's how I found the first one bad in a friends 05 Outback when it had 25,000 miles on it. You can hear a lot from the back seat.

305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD).  CHECK your oil, these cars use it.

 

Engine Build - Click Here

Posted
Have someone else drive and sit in all 4 positions and listen for which one is the loudest. Using a stethoscope can help too. (Experience: replaced 3 wheel bearings in 1 year span on my legacy)

 

Do what covertrussian say's, that's how I found the first one bad in a friends 05 Outback when it had 25,000 miles on it. You can hear a lot from the back seat.

 

I'm on this like

 

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/2d/2d7a602785552b1da29f8d0c3d89cdd230571b1459d1df82d31d7abcef9b66e9.jpg

Posted

I couldn't figure out which rear wheel bearing was bad on my wagon. I replaced the right side, noise went away 50%. Replaced the left and the noise was gone. They were both bad.

 

The rears are pretty easy to change yourself, not sure how mechanically inclined you are.

2005 LGT 6MT Limited Wagon

Posted
Yes, at this age it could be more then one.

305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD).  CHECK your oil, these cars use it.

 

Engine Build - Click Here

Posted
These wheel bearings do get play in them when they go bad. But I can see them being slightly noisy with out any play also.

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