New Problem After Replacing Wheel Bearing

[CowPimp]

So both my rear wheel bearings were slowly dying. I replaced the driver's side first. Things improved, but the original problem (A noise) was still there. I had the passenger side one replaced next. As soon as I get it back from the shop there are new problems, although the original noise has dissipated.

Upon curving to the left at lower speeds I can hear a repetitive metallic rubbing noise. It sounds sort of like those a flimsy wire brush rubbing against a symbol on a drum set. As well, my parking brake feels a lot looser. I have to pull it quite a bit further back to get it to hold. Do you think the mechanic screwed something up? I have a feeling those two things are related somehow (Loose e-brake boot?).

 

[CowPimp]

I have a little more info to add. I believe that the noise does occur while going in a straight line. However, it is a lot quieter. It seems I am only able to hear it while moving straight ahead if there is something close to the side of my car (Other cars parked on the street, a cement barrier, etc.) that can reflect that sound back towards me.

Also, I have to practically jerk left for the noise to become easily audible. If nothing else, it has do be a pretty sharp curve. I think it's something on the inside of the wheel, not the outside, because turning left is pushing it outwards and causing the noise to become louder.

 

[johnk]

I totally agree with you that something inside flexs slightly. I did my wheel bearings on the front. What happened to me was the hub is made of a few pieces that all push together so they can definitely move around a hair to make something grind inside a little more. The hub that holds the studs out is made of two parts when I was bolting mine back together it uses these tiny like 8 or 10mm bolts so I snapped one of course. I put mine back together with a bolt thats a smidgey too long and when I take right turns I can really hear it. Mine is one the drivers side. It also makes a light very light ticking noise and you can really only hear it at certain speeds and like you said when next to hard objects barriers, guard rails, passing cars. The noise has gotten quieter since I did the bearings last year but hasn't disappeared...grr

Ya I F'ed up but I can live with the minor annoyance. And with my new exhaust I can barely notice it when I listen for it.

 

[CowPimp]

The shop I went to may solve the problem for free. They warranty their work. If it is definitely a result of their improper installation of the part, then they will honor the warranty. They have honored it twice before when installing aftermarket parts that required some fiddling 100 miles or so later. I just want to discover what it may be on my own so that if they don't fix it, then I can at least take a look at it.

 

[johnk]

Takeing the bearings apart was a real tough job for me. I don't have a lot of car experience but I wouldn't recommend the job for any one who doesn't know what they are doing. You can't take the hub apart at all on the car, atleast not as far as I was able to figure out with the tools available. And you need a press to get the bearings out. In order to get at the part I was talking about above you will have to press apart the hub.

 

[CowPimp]

Takeing the bearings apart was a real tough job for me. I don't have a lot of car experience but I wouldn't recommend the job for any one who doesn't know what they are doing. You can't take the hub apart at all on the car, atleast not as far as I was able to figure out with the tools available. And you need a press to get the bearings out. In order to get at the part I was talking about above you will have to press apart the hub.

Understood. So you don't think the culprit might be something else?

 

[CowPimp]

Another update: I have confirmed that it is definitely a rotational noise that changes with the speed of the car. As well, I am quite confident the brakes are unrelated. If I am curving and holding the brakes, it makes no difference. I tried a few different speeds with different amounts of pressure applied to the brakes. I'm going back to the mechanic tomorrow to see if he can tell from the noise. He'll at least look at it free.