Wheel bearing time? HMMMMMMMMM

[X5chemist]

Oh! I didn't realize the front shaft was in the way! I'll report back after its Wed appointment. Well worth for a transfer case oil change. Trans oil level check. Plus, lift it completely to let it run in drive with all the wheels off the ground. I'm hoping it's a rear bearing going bad.

[X5chemist]

$63.77 was charged for a shifter seal replacement. The transmission oil level is fine. The shop did try to find a bad bearing. The manager and master tech both went for a test drive. They scanned it while driving. They could not reproduce the hum while it was lifted. The diagnosis is road noise. The noise is a hum and not a high pitch screech. The directional tires may hum at certain speeds. I'll have go and look at tire reviews.

Effduration is correct. The driveshaft was not removed. Instead of going out to buy a single small seal, they took a seal from a rebuild kit.

Next service due, new transmission and transfer case oil at 190k miles. It's at 171k now. I'll keep driving it. I'll drive it a little harder too.

A donut and kolaches bribe did work.

[andrewwynn]

From an auto service place on a bmw that invoice looks like a typo!

I was 100% sure wife had a bearing going bad it turned out to be tire wear.

Classic bearing "UFO" "wub wub wub".

I put the car in the air was going to put in drive and use stethoscope but saw the uneven tread wear.

I also have had tires that would hum at certain speeds but usually slow.

The thing was with those, made a hum when coming to a stop sign that sounded *exactly* like a worn bearing.

Once i figured that out it was just funny to me and i might even hum along but it was tricky to determine when I actually had a bad bearing until i figured out the use a spare tire method.

Which btw can alao be used to confirm it's not the bearing.

If you have 255 tires and put on 235 spare it flips which races are loaded and the bearing hum will either disappear or get much worse.

It's how I found one of my bad bearings. I had no idea one was toast and i put on a set of 235s and instant horrible bearing. Was the 2nd e53 bearing i ended up changing.


–awr–

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[wpoll]

I've replaced both rear bearings on mine, at different times (first car owner was a boatie) and yeah, it's a pretty obvious "wub wub wub" sound - just hard to determine where it's coming from!

I also have directional tyres that hum at certain speeds but it's a subtly different sound. Thought it might have been a failing CSB but that seems fine.

The second rear bearing I changed I wasn't 100% certain I was puling the correct bearing so I was VERY glad to see a galled race when I pulled it off/apart!

[80stech]

Haha, yep when you see that you know that you haven't wasted your time! I think tire noise changes more with different road surfaces as well so another indicator.

[andrewwynn]

Very satisfying to see the damage to confirm!


–awr–

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[X5chemist]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

From an auto service place on a bmw that invoice looks like a typo!

First thing I mentioned was it has a 5 five speed GM transmission. I sure don't need "BMW" to be used to empty my wallet.

The shop has been a great service place for transmission maintenance. I recommend them to anyone that asks for a place.

[X5chemist]

"Bearings are not a wear item there's no reason to preemptively replace (ie both bearings). Figure out which and fix that one. If you have 255 tires put the spare 235 on one side then to the other side. It's been a 100% success to confirm a bag bearing. If you have 235s already borrow from a friend: an e70 wheel will work if you use a centering ring. –awr–"

Yes, I run 255 wheels. The spare tire is OEM 235. Wondering if driving in an open field would be enough over a hard surface to do figure 8s.

[andrewwynn]

Put the spare on one corner at a time drive and see if the noise stops. (Or changes: if both back are bad it should be half as bad twice.


–awr–

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[80stech]

"Chassis ears" The US made ones are pretty crappy quality but still work great so if price is a problem and you don't mind buying Chinese I'm sure they would still be fine and you can get them pretty cheap.