Bearings (VAG)

[Enzeder]

I replaced the right front bearing on my V8 a few weeks ago.  It started as 
a slight hum in a straight line and ended up as a loud hum and slight 
vibration that was much louder when making left turns at speed.  While 
driving down the highway, I could swing the wheel and hear the bearing hum 
when swinging left.

Still, I wouldn't completely rule out the tires.  I had a set of Yokohama 
summer tyres that would hum slightly when cornering (a very different sound 
than the bearing though)...


At 03:16 PM 6/27/2005, tihol tiholov wrote:
>This one to susp gurus:
>Do bad wheel bearings get more quiet when unloaded or under more load?
>Background: Patient is '99 NBeetle, 237K km, wife's car, little driven by 
>me.  Got humming  noise after putting new winter tires (Hankook, pretty 
>high tech) in April, then got worse with summer tires (Falken ZIEX 512) in 
>May.  Sounds like off-road mud tires on tarmac.  First appeared at 90/100 
>km/h, then over few weeks gradually came down the speedometer and now at 
>about 50 km/h  there's a harmonic vibration shaking stuff in car.  Used to 
>be on a straight line only and disappearing in corners, both left and 
>right.  Now it disappears when going left only.  Finally, 2 day ago got 
>tired of it and went to have the tires looked at.  All 4 were rebalanced, 
>test drive and same noise.  Reliable tech tells me "must be wheel 
>bearing".  Up on the hoist it goes - both front wheels feel a little tight 
>when turning, no play.  Driving with front axle up in the air brings a 
>slight noise from the left wheel, less to no noise from the right wheel.
>Ordered front wheel bearing but the lack of play in the hub is a little 
>disconcerting.  Hypothesis is dried out bearing that's still (maybe too) 
>tight.  Has anyone seen such a bearing failure?  Hope it's not worse like 
>the transmission.  Any ideas, BTDT's very much appreciated.
>
>TIA,
>Tihol
>
>TT
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