What does it sound like when your wheel bearings are going bad??? Can it mimic the sound of tread noise? I've noticed that for the past several months, I get a noise that starts around 20MPH, and increases directly relative to increase in speed. I first heard it when I had my winter tires on and just thought it was tread noise...but it remained after I put my summer tires on. I've read several posts...and suspected bearing problems seem to be noticed as "tread noise" at first. Any thoughts?


Thanks
Mickey

 

How many miles? It will sound like metal on metal with sand inbetween...........

 

yes it starts out sounding like a bad tire, then well it just gets worse....

just keep in mind it is a replacment, they are non serviceable berings..
and if you can use audi parts, sometimes aftermarket parts just don't cut it.


E

 

make a sharp turn in both directions, if it gets better/worse it's the bearing.

 

Roate the tires, if it moves with the tire it is bad tread. If it stays in the same place it is probably the brearing.

 

thanks guys. would 71K be about the point where wheel bearings could/would go bad? Would a "good" test be to try and "wobble" the wheel? And if the wheel didn't "wobble"...could it still be the bearings?


~Mickey

 

The wobble test didn't work when mine went out. Go for a drive and make a few quick turns. If the sound goes away one direction and gets louder turning the other direction, it's probably the wheel bearing.

 

Yeah...I noticed the sound gets "deeper" when I turn to the right...but says at the same tone/pitch when I turn to the left. I guess my next questions are:

1: Get the wheel bearing from online or at the stealership?
2: Does anyone have a "ballpark" figure on what it should cost?

Thanks for everyone's help. As always, it's most appreciated.

~Mickey

 

If the noise gets louder when you turn right, the bad bearing is on the left side. Now listen for front/rear.

 

or it'll sound like someone's got a cat in a bag and is smashing it on the wall...in the event it gets too bad...[:-]