[Samwich]

So for a while, ive been getting like a "whoop whoop whoop" nosie from the front of my car

It sounds like its the wheels turning, but only starts to get REALLY noticable around 80km+

At first i thought it was just the wheel rubber sounds, But i looked at it a little bit closer..

It seems like it inly happens when im going straight, or turning the wheel to the right???

When i turn the wheel to the left, the sound is completely gone O.o
Ive looked under the car and theres no rubbing at all...


Anyone know what this would be????

[matty_wall]

Wheel bearings. exact symptoms of my vitara.

[Samwich]

any way to test what side??

[Bruce]

Yep, lift up car and see what movement you have up and down by putting 1 hand at the top and 1 hand at the bottom of wheel and see if there is any movement. I'm sure you will find out.
I know Royce and I found this out on his crappa last weekend. Took all of 10 sec to let ya know that the bearing was rooted.

[Samwich]

Bruce wrote:

Yep, lift up car and see what movement you have up and down by putting 1 hand at the top and 1 hand at the bottom of wheel and see if there is any movement. I'm sure you will find out.
I know Royce and I found this out on his crappa last weekend. Took all of 10 sec to let ya know that the bearing was rooted.

Ahh okay, sounds easy enough.

so there should be no movement at all??
Are wheel bearings hard to replace/where would be the best place to get them

[BlueSuzy]

There shouldn't be any play when doing Bruce's method.

Play = bad with any bearings.

Can get them local, prob ring around 1st.

I haven't done any on a vit, cant comment on method to change. I think there is a special tool to use to undo nut and re torque preload. Saw a thread on this a while ago

[matty_wall]

Shouldnt be any movement.
If you have the old cone type bearings. the cone will have to come out which can be a bitch. Mine had to be welded around the inside before the press would push them out.
If you have a press or know someone who does its fairly easy.

Edit. the tool tim speaks of isnt really needed, it does make life easier tho. I used a cold chisel and hammer.

[Samwich]

Haha yeah i dont have anyone in canberra that i know of that would have a press :/

Ill see how much a shop will do it, and see if i can save myself the hassle,

Are there any "BIG" risks of driving around for abit on a shot bearing?

[BlueSuzy]

Worn too much and it could collapse. Get it looked at.

[atari4x4]

didn't royce have the whole hub fall off... i'm certain there is a pic on here somewhere.

[TZAR]

Could also be a separated tyre. Just drive into a tyre store and go " me no smart is my tyre okay" and they will check it for you and tell you what the go is.

Try somewhere with a mechanical workshop IE bridgestone, beurepairs etc not Bob Jane or similar tyre and wheel only places cause they wouldnt know if there dick was on fire most of the time.

[Samwich]

Whats a separated tyre?? haha?

[Hybrid]

Samwich wrote:

Whats a separated tyre?? haha?

Heres one from my 350....

[TZAR]

Samwich wrote:

Whats a separated tyre?? haha?

Its when the tread separates from the casing. You know when you drive down the highway and see all those exploded tyres on the side of the road, thats from tyres separating. Can be quite nasty and destroy the whole front of your car as well when the tread flops around and slaps your gaurd to pieces.

It only takes 5 mins in a tyre store to be checked.

[Samwich]

it hasnt lost any air??
I can just pop the spare on to check that out cant i?? haha

[DarkHorse]

My money's on a bearing. Get that checked first.

Replacing can get pricey just because there's a bit of effort/labour involved in taking the hub off and getting at them. If you can do any of it yourself and just take the hub in you'll save yourself $$$.

[bigdogdazza]

Yup I agree with the bearing. Same thing on my vitara, started as a whoop whoop....I thought cool party vitara! Just kidding, left it a while longer and developed a grinding noise. You can buy the bearing kits on eBay for around $120 for both sides delivered. Not a hard job but you will need a press, circlip pliers, the bearing tool and a torque wrench makes life easier but also not 100% necessary, and just standard tool kit.

[Samwich]

yeah its $650 to get a shop to fix it :/

but i dont have access to a press..

[Reubs]

Samwich wrote:

yeah its $650 to get a shop to fix it :/

but i dont have access to a press..

As someone else has mentioned in this thread, just pull the hubs apart and take them to a workshop. 20 minutes will see the bearings pressed in and out - it'll take longer for them to find suitable drifts than it will to do the pressing!

You just need basic tools plus circlip pliers and maybe a torque wrench (I've never done mine properly with a torque wrench though) to do the job. Spend a few dollars at a tool shop if you don't have these and save some dollars on labour. $650 is a bit rich just for replacement of wheel bearings IMO.

[Bruce]

Reubs wrote:

Samwich wrote:

yeah its $650 to get a shop to fix it :/

but i dont have access to a press..

As someone else has mentioned in this thread, just pull the hubs apart and take them to a workshop. 20 minutes will see the bearings pressed in and out - it'll take longer for them to find suitable drifts than it will to do the pressing!

You just need basic tools plus circlip pliers and maybe a torque wrench (I've never done mine properly with a torque wrench though) to do the job. Spend a few dollars at a tool shop if you don't have these and save some dollars on labour. $650 is a bit rich just for replacement of wheel bearings IMO.

X2.
Royce and I did one of his last weekend and it was around $100 for the bearing. Hardest part was removing the circlip. Rest was easy (but we had a press to use as well)
Remove the hub and take it somewhere with your brearing kit and ask nicely to remover old and replace for you if you don't have a press.

[GeckoXL7]

Why not replace the whole Hub, can order from US or Canada for $65 per hub includes bearings and all.

I have to do my left Hub, as last trip with the new AVM manual hubs on, they came loose letting mud get into the bearings, now when do a hard right turn feels like the brakes are being applied. Did a ebay search for vitara Hubs and saw how cheap they are even for mine with the ABS sensor ring on it. can also order from Repco reasonably cheap too I would say prob around the $100 mark per hub, beats trying to replace the bearings and will get a whole new shiny unit with new wheel studs and all.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-FRONT-WH ... 415cf8888e

Can get cheaper delivery from places like Summitracing etc.

[Samwich]

yeah that might be better actually haha,

How do i change what ebay ships with though?

[GeckoXL7]

Just look for ones with out ABS ring having the ring on wont be a big deal anyways, I would just email the supplier first before purchasing and ask for ones that will suit a Vitara with out ABS. Or go into repco and get a price may end out cheaper when it is all added up.

Would do both sides as well as if one side goes often the other side will be on its way out too and will keep the wheels better balanced.

[Samwich]

Ahh okay haha.

What does ABS do?

[TZAR]

So what was it???

[303zuke]

GeckoXL7 wrote:

Just look for ones with out ABS ring having the ring on wont be a big deal anyways, I would just email the supplier first before purchasing and ask for ones that will suit a Sidekick with out ABS.

Translation for US Seller.

[Samwich]

the only hubs i can find are for 2001 + years ):

[DarkHorse]

If you're looking in the US they didn't get called Vitaras until then. Try Sidekick, Tracker, Escudo (Japan) or even Sunrunner (South America maybe?)

[Samwich]

looking everywhere, And yeah for thos .. no luck so far ):

[Samwich]

still cant find the whole Hub for a 1995 vitara ANYWHERE ):