Front Wheel Bearings

[charbaby]

Now that I have ordered new tires(Hankook Optimo H727) for my daughter's car(06 mazda3), I'll finaly be able to tell if it's really the tires(Dunlop Signature) making the noise or if it's really front wheel bearings. None of the wheels in my inventory would fit over the hub of the Mazda nor in the wheel wells etc so, I couldn't try anything tirewise to see if changing tires would cure the noise. Rotating the tires changed the noise somewhat but, still present. Road textures would not change the noise much but, sometimes it would. I don't get it!

When we first test drove the car, the noise and viberation was terrable. The used car dealership had the tires rotated/balanced, as the front tires had much more ware than the rears(rears looking quite decent) and the noise was more acceptable but still present leading me to beleive the noise was comming from the Dunlop Signature's "zig-zag center tread design. Replaced the F: brake pads and turned F: rotors. This was a very good used car dealership experience and the car has been great for over a year now!

Reading reviews of this tire(Dunlop Signature) were comments from owners complaining of tire noise. Some reviews if fact stated that the noise was so bad that it was almost unlivable. I haven't noticed any broken belts or flat spots in the tires and they seem to roll pretty well. The noise is more noticeable at lower speeds than at higher speeds.

Reading reviews on Mazda3's, owners complain about road noise in the car itself. I haven't read much about front wheel bearings being an issue with these cars. Does anyone have any information or experience with having to replace the front wheel bearings in mazda3's ? Im really haveing a hard time telling as the noise is that close to a front wheel bearing noise. I have inquired in the past about this noise but, didn't get many responces. I guess I'll find out when I replace the tires to the Hankooks, which are supposed to be very quiet. Boy, I hope it's tire noise, I'd really hate to replace the hubs.

Also, I'm replacing the tires a few months early as one tire has some sidewall damage and I've been blaming the tires for the noise anyway!

 

[stranger706]

Believe me I understand your frustration. For the past 56,000 miles I've been driving on some of the quietest tires you can get short of Michelins, and the road noise in this car is still pretty high. I understand that Mazda did not use very much sound insulation in these cars. That is fine with me for this class of car but it leaves me wondering where all the extra weight comes from? My moms Honda Civic weighs 400 pounds less than my Mazda 3, yet is a much quieter car, even with the dreaded Goodyear Eagle RSAs.

Anyways, rant over, I wouldn't say with certainty that your noise problem is indeed the tires, but I'd bet money on it. How many miles does your daughter's 3 have? I have 102,000 miles on mine and all the wheel bearings are original, untouched. I have not heard of any problems with Mazda 3 wheel bearings.

One thing that helped with the noise in my car was getting an alignment done recently. The tires are starting to wear a little more even now and that is beginning to reduce the tire noise a bit. When you get your new tires mounted, you may want to get an alignment check.

 

[demarpaint]

I had a noise coming from the front wheels/tires that three different people who drove the car told me it was the tires. I had an unsettled feeling and decided to change tire positions on the car. The noise changed somewhat but was still there. I pulled the RF wheel bearings and at that point discovered the outer wheel bearing was on its last legs. Good thing I caught it.

 

[charbaby]

stranger706,
Bought the car in Aug'09 w/50,000 mils and now has aprox 72xxx miles. The tires that are on the car now(Dunlop's) are actually waring quite well(evenly accross the tread pattern). I may have the allignment checked but, with the way the existing tires look, I may wait. After installing the new tires, hopefully sometime this week, if the noise still exist, I'll price bearings/hubs. Hard to tell if it's one bearing or both as throwing the car into a corner(right/left), I can't tell!

demarpaint,
What car do you have? Is it a mazda3?

I've only had to replace front wheel bearings/hubs on one FWD car ever! And it was an '84 Plymouth. Even the meachanics that replaced the bearings/hubs couldn't tell at that time wheather or not it was one or both so, I gave them the go-a-head to replace both. I would have replaced the bearings myself but it was winter time and brutaly cold out and the noise had become too loud to keep driving any longer this way. I had waited long enough(over a year).

This noise on her mazda3 is similar to that Plymouth but not exactly(actually quiets down at highway speeds). No matter what I did to that Plymouth as far as moving tires around, the noise was the same and loud. I guess I'll find out soon when I have the new tires installed.

 

[Dan55]

Here's a link that might help. http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=82962.msg1551141#msg1551141 I had my wheel bearings replaced under warranty and maybe an alignment as well, tire noise went away briefly but came back. Went with a better tire, Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S alot less noise and long life. I bought my 05 3 with a upgraded tire package , performance tires are inherently noisy.

 

[The_Eric]

I understand your frustrations. I had recently replaced the front bearings on the wife's car. Sometime later she was complaining of a noise. Went for a ride and determined it was bearing noise. Got the bearings replaced under warranty and it was better(ish). Took it to the shop I work at and the boss instantly proclaims it tire noise... My noise was like yours. Loudest at slower to moderate speed and quieter on the highway. We had another set of rims and tires to experiment with, so we put them on. Boom- problem solved. I had never heard road noise like that before.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby

demarpaint,
What car do you have? Is it a mazda3?



No not a Mazda 3, it happened on an 87 Buick Century, and early this spring on my RWD Aerostar. The noise was similar, and the easiest check was just to move the tires from front to rear. Both times I was able to detect which side was at fault. On the Buick I only did the side that was bad. On the Aerostar I did both, the left and right front inner and outer wheel bearings. The scary thing about the Aerostar was when I pulled the cap that covers the bearings, they spilled out, and the outer bearing was welded to the spindle. It was not fun!

 

[mechtech2]

You are going to have to update us!
I hope the problem is fixed.

 

[charbaby]

Thank you all...I checked the tracking # and I should have the tires on Tue 26th and hope to have them installed within the next day or two from there.

 

[Rick in PA]

I've had a few wheel bearings go bad in various cars. There's a definite rumble to a bad bearing. The rumble often changes / goes away momentarily when accelerating / breaking / turning. Jack the car up and wiggle the wheel (you can compare one side to the other). A bad wheel bearing will exhibit excess play.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
I've had a few wheel bearings go bad in various cars. There's a definite rumble to a bad bearing. The rumble often changes / goes away momentarily when accelerating / breaking / turning. Jack the car up and wiggle the wheel (you can compare one side to the other). A bad wheel bearing will exhibit excess play.


Good point, but not always. Most of the time, yes.

 

[charbaby]

When I had wheel bearings go bad(usually in domestic FWD cars), the noise inside the car sounded like an off road P/U truck with aggressive off road tires. This noise isn't quite like that but each case is different. If the noise that we're hearing is the bearings, this will be the first Asian vehicle we have owned as a family that has done this in 26 yrs.

 

[Kestas]

I do automotive wheel bearing warranty analysis for our company. I've analyzed hundreds of bearings that came through our lab from the field.

Bearing damage and resulting noise occurs long before any play is felt. Most of the customer comments I've read describe a bad bearing as a roar, whine, or growling coming from the front (or rear) end of the car, most noticable at 30-45 mph.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: Dan55
Here's a link that might help. http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=82962.msg1551141#msg1551141 I had my wheel bearings replaced under warranty and maybe an alignment as well, tire noise went away briefly but came back. Went with a better tire, Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S alot less noise and long life. I bought my 05 3 with a upgraded tire package , performance tires are inherently noisy.


Thanks Dan!
I am aware of this site as I had discovered it last year and joined as a member(same name). I don't really get a ton of information over there as I do here at Bob's but, I keep in touch just the same. This noise issue or any noise issue can be very frustrating. I'm having the new tires installed this morning at W&M.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
I do automotive wheel bearing warranty analysis for our company. I've analyzed hundreds of bearings that came through our lab from the field.

Bearing damage and resulting noise occurs long before any play is felt. Most of the customer comments I've read describe a bad bearing as a roar, whine, or growling coming from the front (or rear) end of the car, most noticable at 30-45 mph.


Is there a way for people to diagnose at home before the bearings start having any play?

 

[Kestas]

It's not easy. Diagnosis is more of an art. The noise can also come from other components, such as tires, differential, or transmission components. Even the mechanics misdiagnose. Sometimes half the parts that come in from warranty show no trouble, meaning the mechanic replaced a good part.

 

[charbaby]

Well, I had the new Hankook Optimo H727 tires installed at W*M this morning and they did a wonderful job. Cleaning the wheel rim on both sides and applying this black sealer and then doing a static balance. They really took their time as it was quiet this morning.

Paid the bill($51.87) 4 tires installed, valve stems and 1 X balancing. THE NOISE IS GONE!

Oh yeah, there is a little something very mild but, sounds the same as the 2010 mazda3 rental I had in Arizona. I'm very happy, my daughter will be too!

The Hankook's are nice. No life altering experience but, nice!

 

[Norse]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
When I had wheel bearings go bad(usually in domestic FWD cars), the noise inside the car sounded like an off road P/U truck with aggressive off road tires. This noise isn't quite like that but each case is different. If the noise that we're hearing is the bearings, this will be the first Asian vehicle we have owned as a family that has done this in 26 yrs.


When I see wheel bearings go bad(usually in Asian FWD cars), the noise inside the car sounded like a kids plastic hot wheels 3 wheeler riding on bad asphalt.

 

[Kestas]

Only a couple times have I personally heard a bad wheel bearing. On one, the roar in the car would give you a migraine at 30 mph. We replaced the bearing, took it apart, and found a small, 2 mm spall.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: Norse
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
When I had wheel bearings go bad(usually in domestic FWD cars), the noise inside the car sounded like an off road P/U truck with aggressive off road tires. This noise isn't quite like that but each case is different. If the noise that we're hearing is the bearings, this will be the first Asian vehicle we have owned as a family that has done this in 26 yrs.


When I see wheel bearings go bad(usually in Asian FWD cars), the noise inside the car sounded like a kids plastic hot wheels 3 wheeler riding on bad asphalt.


Yes, that the sound I was hearing! THE BIG WHEEL in the driveway!
With the new tires on, the noise is gone. Now it's time to take care of those noisy brakes. Always sounds like metal to metal contact even when driven a while(pads are nice and thick). Really noisy on the first few stop of the morning and gets better while driving but never gone. They do have great bite though! Maybe after winter. I want to install ceramic pads w/new rotors F/R without hurting the stopping power.