Hello,
So I have been getting this wierd noise from my passenger side front wheel. I thought it was something to do with the brakes because it would only happen when I would brake before, but now it happens all the time. It does get worse under braking, but its always there, unless I turn to the right, then it goes away. Well I do need to replace my pads and rotors pretty soon anyways, but I am starting to think that it is the hub bearing thats shot, not something with the brakes. Now the question is... Is the hub bearing even replaceable? or do I have to get a whole new hub? Is this something I can DIY? or does it need some special tools? The other thing I can say is that I am currently running 3 lug bolts in that wheel because one got stuck in there (cross threaded or something) and ended up snapping rather than breaking free when I was loosening it (at that point I was practically jumping up and down on a 4 foot breaker bar...), so I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but did snap that bolt a few months after the noise started. I appreciate any and all help with this.. and if anyone has experience with hub bearings wearing out, please chime in as to what tells you that they're worn out.
Thanks!
-Austin

 

Sounds like brake noise to me- I have found that the inner pad will wear quicker sometimes, so a quick visual inspection with the wheel on makes you think you have plenty of pad left. Put it up safely and pull the wheel off (now 1/4 easier!) and pull your calipers if you feel up to the job- there's lots of DIY info right here on NAM. I predict that the inner pad at least will be worn down to the metal which will give you the noise all the time. Pads are in close enough contact with the rotors all the time so that really worn pads will give noise even if you are not on the brakes.

Val

 

If the noise is all the time, not just braking, it's probably a wheel bearing, especially if it gets quieter if you are turning in one direction (changing the load on the bearing). The only way it would be brakes is if your caliper is hanging up and not releasing completely, which is something to check, but if this were the case it would get real bad, real quick. Wheel bearings will get louder and vibrating more over a period of weeks/months. Wheel bearing replacement is quite easy and the only special tools needed are a socket for the axle bolt and a torque wrench. I replaced mine a couple months ago on my '02 MCS and it only took 2.5 hours to replace both front assemblies. I replaced both just because I've had experience in the past that if one goes the other will be going soon also. The only issue is the cost, wheel bearings for MINI's run ~$150 each compared to the wheel bearings I just replaced on my son's Acura CL that were $18 each .

 

If you've ever been in a truck that had big nobby tires going on the freeway, that's pretty close to what bad wheel bearings sound like.

 

Geez......you've got a bad noise when braking and you ignore it and let it get worse?? I hope no one rides with you. And I hope no one's on the road with you as well. These kinds of things should NOT be taken lightly. Take your car to someone who knows what they're doing and do it NOW!

And FYI, it's likely brakes and what might have been a simple pad replacement, may now include the cost of new rotors and maybe more because you let it go.

 

not necisarily ignoring it... but its more like... what am I supposed to do? I checked the pads and even though they are close to done, they aren't down to the metal yet. and FYI, i have the original pads and rotors still so they need to be replaced anyways.

I will try with new brakes soon, because I need them anyways, and if that doesn't fix the problem then the only other thing it could be is the bearing, so I will do that afterwards. The sound is kind of intermittent too, but I guess I will find out if I need to do bearing and brakes...

 

OK unless I missed it.....What kind of noise is it making? Is it an annoying high pitched squeel that gets more obvious when you press on the breaks? If so check to see if your pads have a little metal tab on them it will usually cause that kind of issue.

 

its not high pitched at all.. It sounds kind of like its only at one point in the rotation of the wheel, and its kind of a grinding/rubbing noise. It gets worse as the brakes are used.

 

Jack the offending wheel off the ground and grab the wheel and try to wobble it back and forth. If there is ANY play at all in the bearing the wheel will wobble at least a little and needs to be replaced. My money is on a wheel bearing. The diminishing sound whilst turning is the telltale factor. Please be careful not to pull the car off the jack.