Wheel Bearing question for you guys. Possible failure

[JDM EG6]

04 Echo,

There is a hum I can hear at say 20km up, the faster I go, the louder it gets. I turn left and it stays, I turn right and it goes away. The sound sounds like winter tires but I know its not as I know what mine sound like.

I got under the car and removed all ice and snow built up and this did nothing, brakes are good. Bushings to control arm and sway bar are also good.

I them raised the car and turned all tires and the rotate fine, usuall brake noise from front, then I grabbed the top of all tires and tried to give then a good tug and pull to check for play and there is no play.

Is there anything else I can do to check for wheel bearing failure? Of all the cars, Ive never had to replace one and Ive done all Id know and think of doing. I have a trip to Toronto I have to be there for on Tuesday and I work everyday till then so this doesnt help my case.

thanks in advance guys.

and yes I know, just take it to the dealer, thats fine, Im only asking if there is anything else I can do, thanks.

[AWDGuy]

never replaced a wheel bearing on any of your cars? wow...I think I've done it on all of mine. :lol:

My mechanic uses a stethoscope to listen to the wheel hub for bearing noise. You probably dont have alift or one of those so not much help. :P

[Andre]

When you turn left does it get louder? Regardless sounds like a LF wheel bearing would be a good guess.

[blu88notch]

Impossible, it's not a domestic.

[CRXZC]

Definitely sounds like a wheel bearing... my ex had an Echo and replaced all 4 bearings under 100k...

Take it to any mechanic, and not the dealer, and have it fixed.

[JDM EG6]

Ya, never in any car have a had a wheel bearing go.

Ill just rent a stupid car and drop off the echo monday. Plus these bearings are pressed or Id do it myself :(

thanks guys.

[dwarrick]

raise up the front of the car.

then spin the wheel with one hand while you put your other on the spring. you will be able to feel a differance between the two though the spring. the side that is bad will have little vibrations going through the spring while the other side you wont feel anything.

you can also get someone to drive the car at 40-50km/h while in the air, while you hold the spring but be carefull!!! it will be much more noticable then though.

[Robin2]

sounds like a bearing slowly going.... i had one like that and it drove me nuts for about 6 months... it only got louder and louder and time progressed.... but that's it.... on a rear wheel...

the other 2 bearings i changed (front) were completly different... with each rotation it made a crunching sound and got worse VERY quickly.... the fronts were easier to change and remove the hub/knuckle and got a machine shop to press in the new one....

for the rear, I don't have a slide hammer so they did it.... more work involved on my subbie...

[whiplash]

I had the same thing happen to the accent. Started to get noise when driving, increasingly loud with increasing speed. Turn one direction, and it went silent, turning the other made it worse. Ended up being driver's-front bearing.

[Turbo Tin Can]

Pressed or not they are easy to get off and out, its just a matter of knowing how.

EDIT: While u are at it check balljoints, axels and what not odds are its prolly premature wear from your car's bigger heavier tires and dumpyness. Something ur not new too, it wont be expensive to fix.

[Sleekah]

my left front wheel has a whild screeching noise..could be a bearing, or brake related.

noise is persistant when driving straight, or turning left...goes away when turning right.

either way, i'm driving it till it falls apart.

[JDM EG6]

Pressed or not they are easy to get off and out, its just a matter of knowing how.

EDIT: While u are at it check balljoints, axels and what not odds are its prolly premature wear from your car's bigger heavier tires and dumpyness. Something ur not new too, it wont be expensive to fix.


lol, thanks Tom, Yeah, My buddy Greg at Toyota will fix it so Ill get him to look over everything for me. Im susprised the oem shocks have lasted for how dumped it is :P