Wheel Bearing

[Hagar46]

Ok, question for all you MINI mechanically inclined owners. I believe I have a bad driver's side front wheel bearing. As I get above 35 mph, I get an increasingly louder humming from the drive train the faster I go. My question is, "Is there any way to be certain that it is a wheel bearing and not a CV joint or the CVT transmission?"

[Minidave]

CV joint will be a clicking sound, most noticeable at slow speeds and when the wheels are turned sharply.....

It's probably a wheel bearing, just as you surmised....if you do them, do both - they have the same number of miles on them after all.

[Hagar46]

And I don't think it is the CVT transmission because the sound does not change when I change gears. It is strictly speed dependent. Baron thought it might be tire wear but it seems to be only driver's side.

[Hagar46]

Minidave, is this a job that could be done at a garage day or should I take it to a repair shop?

[Minidave]

I think we could do it at a shop day, let me look into it.....

[Sspreso]

Does the sound increase/decrease when driving around corners? Do a wide U-turn to the drivers side, then repeat the other way. If you get the sound only when turing towards the drivers side (or it is noticeably louder), it probably is the bearing.


...or is the other way around...

[Hagar46]

It does get louder turning to the right but is otherwise speed dependent. No clicking or thunking at low speed turning so I don't think it is CV joint.

[nine5raptor]

Quick check to rule out tire wear is a rotation. Can do it in a few minutes for free to rule it out.

[Hagar46]

Tire rotation made no change.

[Minidave]

It's a wheel bearing, buy two from your favorite source......

[Hagar46]

One last question, "How dangerous is it to drive with a bad wheel bearing?"

[Minidave]

If it's not sloppy loose, it'll be OK for a while....if it has lateral movement, it could fail and leave you by the road.

[davester]

Back in 2008, a fellow MINI owner named Ivan (Kabootist) had a Checkmate MINI. He has sold his car but he had a wheel bearing press. I don't know how to get ahold of him to see if he still has it. I guess this is just useless information---

[Minidave]

What's a wheel bearing press?

I have a 20 ton press, but usually front bearings like this come already pressed into the hub, so you just change out the hub assembly.

Kabootist went to HPT with us a year (2 years?) ago, I think he's still around....although at the time they were talking about moving him out of country for his work - I don't know if they did or not.

[davester]

Yep, your right but in our shops, we called it a wheel bearing press because that's mostly what we used it for-- pressing wheel bearings onto rear axles. Anyway, you are right about the hub bearing on the front of the MINI. Ivan bought a tool from Baron used to remove the hub bearing.

[REDSLED]

There isn't a special tool for the front wheel bearings. Just 4 13mm bolts thru the knuckle from the backside. Its easier to pull the axle out of the bearing and push it to the side and then remove the bearing assembly from the knuckle although with the right size swivel socket and some persuasion you can work around the axle and release the bolts and pull the bearing assembly off the axle and out of the knuckle with the axle in place.

[REDSLED]

Sorry let me rephrase, you wont need a special tool. There is a special tool for everything if ya look hard enough lol

[Hagar46]

Front wheel bearing hubs replaced today. No more loud humming sound at speed from the driver's side front wheel. After inspection of old bearings, one was very loose and one was very tight. Not sure which was the culprit but glad to have them both replaced.

[kgreen66]

Front wheel bearing hubs replaced today. No more loud humming sound at speed from the driver's side front wheel. After inspection of old bearings, one was very loose and one was very tight. Not sure which was the culprit but glad to have them both replaced.

Well done.