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MG MGA - Wheel bearing wear

I think that one of my front wheel bearings may not have totally enjoyed its recent Le Mans trip. I started to feel a very slight 'moan' through the steering wheel at moderate speeds (below 40 mph) and at low speed left hand turns, but not right hand turns. Is this likely to be a front right wheel bearing problem? Any checks I can do to confirm this?

That said, when this sort of thing happens I tend to change both sides.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve. I would pull the wheel off, and rotate the hub. You should be able to feel any roughness, grating, binding, or hear any unusual noise coming from the wheel bearings. Any such sy,symptoms would likely indicate a bearing that is on it's way out. You can also check for slop in the bearings by trying to wiggle the hub up and down, sideways, and in and out on the spindle. The bearings should have very little slop, just a whisper. Anything more would likely indicate that the bearings are tired, and would probably like to be replaced! Cheers! GLenn
Glenn

Steve, It sounds like it will be the right front wheel bearing. You don't necessarily need to change both, but obviously that's your decision.
mike parker

I too had noise when I loaded a bearing in a turn. I jacked the car up, spun the wheels--checked for play, etc, but couldn't detect any problems. So I thought on it for a bit and came to the conclusion that there was no way I was going to be able to put the forces on that wheel that cornering was--after all--there was no growling noises under normal straight line driving. I bit the bullet--bought new bearings--both sides, because if one is going bad--the other might not be too far behind, and replaced them. I couldn't tell much about the condition of the old bearings upon removal, they looked pretty much normal, but the new bearings made the funny noises go away.
R. L Carleen

Bob

My thoughts entirely. Many thanks. Mind you, I had a quick look at the wheels last night and noticed some radial oil/grease staining on the right hand wheel rim, suggesting a bit of overheating on that side's bearings.


Glen

No poem? Weather must be too nice in Canada at the moment!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Please Steve, don't encourage him!! :-)
Joe Cook

A lot of times you will get noise while the bearings feel fine. The problem can be traced to dirt in the grease from a previous job. The dirt will pit the rollers and the pits will cause noise.
mike parker

Joe, thanks for the encouragement! lol Steve, how could I NOT do a small poem to acknowledge your wheel bearing problem:

While off to LeMans, my friend Steve
Along twisty roads he did weave

While motoring along he heard a tone
Twas actually more like a strange moan

That happens only on left had turns
And lower speed, the driver learns

Could it be a bad wheel bearing
Or is this just another red herring

Checking bearing slop could be done
But doing so isnt really very much fun

Replacing wheel bearings might be best
As the ultimate noise diagnostic test

Glenn Hedrich
Glenn

OH no! He's baaa..aack!
[Groan]
Joe Cook

Dirt in the grease oh oh oh nooooo. Bearings pitted by this are knackered.

Fit new.
Iain MacKintosh

New bearings arrived this morning. Fitting this weekend.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I feel a right plonker. Not changed the wheel bearing yet. Driving the car home from work today I felt the vibration as usual through the steering box. On this occasion I disengaged the clutch and idled the engine to listen for a howl. Vibration instantly went. Revved the engine in neutral and felt the vibration! Revved the engine stationary and felt the vibration. Put my stethoscope on and confirmed that the sound is come from one of: fan belt, dynamo, water pump or bottom pully.

It only vibrates from about 2500 RPM. Then gradually disappears towards 3000 RPM. Absolutely ok above. I did tighten the fan belt during my trip in France but I do not believe I have over tightened it.

Obviously it is a dismantle now in that area to investigate. Any thoughts most welcome.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,

Is your crankshaft pulley a two piece assembly using rivets?

Mick
Mick Anderson

Mick

I run an 1800. It is a 6.25 inch cast pulley as used on rubber bumper MGBs.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve,

I am afraid that I am not a MGB expert. I am a MGA and Triumph person.
Is it a vibration damper type as on Triumphs? That is, a two part pulley bonded with rubber?
When this rubber fails on Triumphs you get a vibration like you describe, at mid range RPM and goes away at higher RPM.

Mick
Mick Anderson

Mick

I am not sure. Not an MGB expert either. I will crawl under the car later and check (in my suit at the moment). This is a true 24 hour BBS. As you stack for the night we get going.

Thanks for your comments.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Your bottom pulley will be the bonded type with a vibration damper built in. Not prone to trouble however. Remove the fan belt, start the engine and see if the vibes are gone. That way you can eliminate the pump, fan and dynamo at a stroke. Check that the fan bolts are tight, the steel bushes in place and that the rubber grommets are in good condition.
Iain MacKintosh

Just taken the radiator out and inspected the parts. Pump and generator spin freely with no sign of wear. The 'elastic band' is on its way out though. Major signs of disintegration and severed two thirds of the way through. Considering converting to an alternator while I have such easy access.

I know I always harp on about my motor running at 170 so I have just checked the thermostat - opens at 174. The gauge reads 170 at 174, so a smidge out.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Interesting how wrong initial diagnosis can be. I started this thread as a wheel bearing problem and ended up with a worn fan belt!

I hope my doctor has a better success rate!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve

Its probably my fault, must have happened whan I nudged your bumper when you nodded off!

Terry
Terry Drinkwater

The worrying thing is that far too many doctors do no better but more worryingly they don't seem to have the ability to think wider as we've done here
Iain MacKintosh

It was the ragged fan belt. I am surprised at the resonance it caused through the steering box.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 21/06/2005 and 07/07/2005

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.