Wheel Bearing, CV Joint, or Front Differential Noise?

[thunderX]

I just replaced the front passenger axle in a 2001 X5 4.4 and now have a noise that increases with speed starting at ~20 mph.

The noise completely goes away if turning right at a certain degree and gets louder if turning left.

It sounds like "ruh-ruh-ruh", not a continuous noise, and the vibration can be felt a little bit in the X5.

Can this be a bad brand new CV joint?

After reading the forum it sounds like a bad wheel bearing- is it common to damage the wheel bearing when hammering out the old axle?

Or is this all the front differential making this noise?

Thank you for any opinion.

I plan to replace the wheel bearing with a borrowed wheel bearing tool set from AutoZone and with an OEM bearing.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by thunderX

I just replaced the front passenger axle in a 2001 X5 4.4 and now have a noise that increases with speed starting at ~20 mph.

The noise completely goes away if turning right at a certain degree and gets louder if turning left.

It sounds like "ruh-ruh-ruh", not a continuous noise, and the vibration can be felt a little bit in the X5.

Can this be a bad brand new CV joint?

After reading the forum it sounds like a bad wheel bearing- is it common to damage the wheel bearing when hammering out the old axle?

Or is this all the front differential making this noise?

Thank you for any opinion.

I plan to replace the wheel bearing with a borrowed wheel bearing tool set from AutoZone and with an OEM bearing.

If you needed to hammer the axle out, most likely you damaged the inner race of the bearing. Looks like it's time for a new wheel bearing. They are press fitted into the hub so good luck with that.

[thunderX]

Thanks for the reply.

I was ordering the bearing and the seller said to drive it 1st 100 miles to give the new CV a chance to lube and loosen. He said this w/out hesitation, indicating to me that this is more common than I thought.

I'll replace the bearing if it doesn't get quieter.

[cn90]

When posting a message asking for help, in addition to year, model, engine info, it is always important to list the mileage. Mileage is crucial in many situations.

[Kristophe]

When I needed to replace my front wheel bearings I removed the hub and took it and the new bearing to a shop. They charged $50 to R& R. This is a very experienced shop and even he admitted those bearings are a bear to remove.

[thunderX]

Originally Posted by cn90

When posting a message asking for help, in addition to year, model, engine info, it is always important to list the mileage. Mileage is crucial in many situations.

Agreed. Thx.

143,000 miles

[thunderX]

Originally Posted by Kristophe

When I needed to replace my front wheel bearings I removed the hub and took it and the new bearing to a shop. They charged $50 to R& R. This is a very experienced shop and even he admitted those bearings are a bear to remove.

You installed the hub and bearing as a single unit?

I was going to do the bearing 1st, then the hub.

I might do it your way- and include the red locktight recommended by BMW.

Thx.

[svvg]

Also worth checking - as a stupid point - that it’s not the heat shield catching the disk from where you may have bent it in slightly while doing the cv joint.....

[thunderX]

Thanks for the idea.

I'll check it but I doubt it's the noise since it goes away completely when I turn the steering slightly to the right, like at 2 o'clock.

The noise going away when unloading the weight by turning the steering slightly supposedly indicates a bad bearing-I hope it's just that and not the front differerntial.

Still not completely ruling out the new CV axle, but at 143K, I think it's a good idea to replace the bearing anyway.

[wpoll]

The bearing noise changing as you turn the wheel (changing the load angle on the bearing) is certainly consistent with any potential damage caused by hammering out the axle.