Gerbils in my wheels?

judebertjudebert familEE
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
As I was creeping along in the school dropoff line, I heard gerbils in my driver front wheel. At least, that's what it sounded like: squeak, squeak, squeak. I put it in neutral and revved the motor; no change. That makes me think it's a wheel or transmission thing.

When I'm going *really* slow, it sounds like the wheel is haunted: creeeeeeeeak... creeeeeeeeak. The faster I go, the more frequent the squeaks are, and the higher-pitched they get, until it sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks experimenting with speed metal.

It's really quiet, too. I never would've been able to detect this with a gas engine running. The radio drowns it out completely, and even the transmission noise covers it up around 30 MPH.

I'm thinking wheel bearing. If so, I can wait a while before fixing it, although there's a possibility of replacement on Sunday. Are the Wagons known for some other failure that I should be taking into account?

Comments

  • skinnyskinny Senior Wagonist
    Sounds like you need to check all clearences on your rotating stock. I would check axles, brakes, bearings, ect
  • ThaClutcHThaClutcH Senior Wagonist
    I would guess the wheel bearing as well.
  • skinnyskinny Senior Wagonist
    mine dont make that noise. its more of a vibrating that shakes the whole car and gets worse the faster you go. also kills gas mileage like big people kill tacos :lol:
  • White&NerdyWhite&Nerdy Senior Wagonist
    Don't rule out the brakes, either. Even if you're not actually applying the brakes, it could be related. That's happened to me before. Easy enough to check before dropping the cash for a new wheel bearing, at least.
  • JakerJaker familEE
    2 possibilities to consider:

    The brake pad squealers (wear detection metal tabs) will only make noise when you are not braking. If your pads are getting close to being worn out, this is the expected behaviour.

    It could be as simple as a small stone that is trapped between the brake rotor and the backing plate.
  • skinnyskinny Senior Wagonist
    I had the shims or what ever they are come loose on the delsol and it would rub agenst the inside of the break. took it out and never had a problem.
  • judebertjudebert familEE
    Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll check those out.

    I was going to fix it on Sunday, but everything in the world got rearranged and messed up all my plans. I swept it all off the table and declared a Day of Rest. (That didn't work out as well as I hoped. Turns out we've still got to have groceries, or we're not going to eat. And they don't just deliver themselves to my door. Rats.)

    Now it'll have to wait for next Sunday. Meanwhile, it should be easy to check out the brake pad squealers, and maybe even get it up on stands and inspect the rotating pieces.
  • WagicWagic Wagonist
    I had a similar noise on another vehicle. Come to find out the shims had worked their may loose and allowed the brake pad to ride up over the rotor. As time went on the pad wore over the top of the rotor and made the strange noise since the rotor was ever so slightly out of round. This will be obvious once you lift the caliper.
  • judebertjudebert familEE
    Jacked it up, gave it a shake from 12 and 6, and it wobbled like Jello. I went and bought a wheel bearing, but a quick perusal of the Chilton's seems to indicate I need a press. Then again, Chilton's has been wrong before. Do I need to take this to a garage, or can I replace the bearing on my own?
  • ricefighterricefighter Wagonist
    you need a hydraulic press to change the front bearing my friend.


    wagpn.............4ever......................
  • judebertjudebert familEE
    Thanks, RF. Off to the garage for me next weekend.
  • ricefighterricefighter Wagonist
    hows the wagon now? fixed it?


    wagon..........4ever............
  • judebertjudebert familEE
    Fixed it just last week. They put it on the lift, took off the hub, and tried to catch the wheel bearing as it fell to the floor. The spindle was ruined; "tomorrow" turned into three days, as it so often does in the automotive world, thanks to various computer and human errors.

    There was even a minor panic when the car wouldn't move off the lift (inertia switch had triggered).

    But now it's fixed, and it coasts much more nicely. It's a real pleasure to glide along. Between the new bearing and the custom alignment, I think I've improved my efficiency 10%!

    I wrote about it on my website, too: http://judebert.com/progress/EV/Wheel-Bearings.html. I didn't get pictures, or I'd post it here.
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