Just been out for a drive after replacing the spring clips that hold the handbrake shoes on (old one broke yesterday and made an awfull racket rolling round inside the rear brake disk!), and noticed that the strange drone i have had coming from the front for the last month or so is getting much worse and the right front wheel is making some squeeking noises.

There was alot of play in that wheel the other day so i adjusted the bearing by torqing to 20nm, undo 1/4 turn and then tighten by hand. The thing is the drone doesnt change when going round corners but does get louder when braking. Could this be the bearing? The car also pulls to the left under really heavy braking and doesn't spin as freely as the left front.

 

Sound like the bearing to me......

 

Yup, could be a bearing.

A quick check is to pull the front wheels, push the brake pads away from the brake rotor, and give the rotor a spin. You should hear virtually nothing and the feel should be smooth as a baby's bottom.

If there's any doubt pull the hubs and actually remove the bearings for inspection.

When was the last time the bearing were cleaned and repacked?

Cheers
DD

 

The nearside (left front) was done at about 80k at it failed big time at 70mph The one in question has never been changed as far as i know (now at 115k). I have ordered a new bearing anyway as it will be a good experience even if it doesn't solve the problem

Thanks

 

They really should be removed, cleaned, and repacked every 30k miles

Cheers
DD

 

Ah thanks, il do the other side while im there then

 

Well, i have done about 100-150 miles on the new bearing and despite the squeek going away at the start, it is now back. If i tighten to 20nm, lossen quarter turn and tighten by hand, it goes away the comes back a few miles later. Could they now be overtightened?

 

When/how does the squeek occur? I wonder if it's brake related? How did the brake pads and discs look?

The "drone" mentioned in your first post could easily be wheel bearing related but "squeek" isn't something I typically associate with wheel bearings, personally.

Anyhow....

If anything I worry that your bearings are too loose. After snugging them down and releasing a bit, I tighten them until just the barest trace of free play can be felt when rocking the hub/brake disc.

After installing the cotter pin take a small drift (or even screwdriver) and tap down the tangs of the castellated nut so that they firmly lock against the cotter pin.

Cheers
DD

 

Update - The squeek turned out to be where i had overtightened the new bearing and it was running a bit dry so that is all sorted.

I have just been down to a local jag specialist who confirms what i thought, its the diff making the noise so my next job is to drop the rear end and take the diff to them.

Thanks for all your help guys!