Freel2,

I need you help diagnosing my wheel bearing for my S80 (The Platform that the Freelander was created from)

Background

1 - My Son normally drives the car

2 - I drive it about 300 miles and I notice too much vibration (My wife can't feel it, sitting in the passenger seat)

3 - I get home and rotate the Tires Front to back (Front tires are wearing out fast)

4 - Vibration is gone but now the front tires are making a lot of noise (My Wife notices the noise)

5 - When I get home I check the tire temperature and the front right is warmer than the front left

6 - I took a picture of both front Tires at the wear indicator so that I can see if the Tires are getting worn out


I ordered a new bearing assembly and some tools to fit the bearing
(the Tools are custom and will work on the Freelander 2 as well, I'll post the Tool info if it works)


Recommendation???

A. Drive the Car 200 miles or so and look for wear, replace the side that is wearing faster

B. Based on the front right being noticeably warmer to the touch just replace it

C. Follow my Wife advice and rotate the tires back to front and ignore the problem (actually she felt that I made it worse which is why she said that but she doesn't understand that it was my intension to eliminate a wheel balancing problem)

D. Do something else to diagnose which bearing is bad

E. Stop posting on message boards and; Just replace both bearings in the front, there is work to be done


For reference my 2008 LR2 with 135,000 miles is on its original wheel bearing.
The 2010 S80 with 151,000 just lost at least one.

Let me know A,B, C, D, E or other

Thanks

Paul

PS I came here with my question because I know that FREEL2 has wheel bearing experts and I trust you expertise. Well to be honest I trust your expertise after I stop laughing at the snarky remarks (would cheeky remarks be correct, I don't know)

Look at the 60% wear indicator at the center of the picture, as the tire wears the 60% will disappear. When the Tire was new it had 100% 80% 60% and 40%. the 60% is nearly gone and any excessive wear will make it disappear. Note: both tires are nearly worn to the 60% and I took a picture of both.

I assume there is no obvious bearing movement or noise at the bearing just tyre noise?


I had an MOT advisory on my right hand front bearing so have replaced the both sides "as you do". Its done 121,000 miles

The car is noticeably smoother and quieter.


Next job when the parts arrive is to replace both lower wishbones and a cv rubber boot that I nicked open doing the bearings.

So I am going to suggest replacing the bearings and maybe the wishbones

BTW never seen a % mark on tyres is that common to a specific make

Last edited by I Like Chips on 13th Jun 2022 6:32 pm. Edited 1 time in total

OCD, even mild, is always helpful... Just kidding.

I going with a modified E., just replace both and keep posting on the message board. Just won't be the same without your valued input.

I Like Chips wrote:

I assume there is no obvious bearing movement or noise at the bearing just tyre noise?

So I am going to suggest replacing the bearings and maybe the wishbones

BTW never seen a % mark on tyres is that common to a specific make

I don't hear a whirling sound like I did for rear diff before I changed the oil and installed a magnet. For reference to me the Bearing Sound is like cutting steel on a lathe, a final cut to remove a very small amount of material. I don't hear anything like that. If I should be listening for something else please describe it.

As for you question about the marking

Nokian Tires

Here is what it looked like new

I am going to replace the offending side first and if it is easy enough to do then I will also replace the other side.

Thanks for the input

Paul


Here is a link to my S80 thread https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/v...p;start=30

MotionInc wrote:

OCD, even mild, is always helpful... Just kidding.

I going with a modified E., just replace both and keep posting on the message board. Just won't be the same without your valued input.

Take the car to an empty car park or similar. Drive the car in a right hand circle. The car will lean over to the opposite side as you drive, thus putting more weight on the left hand bearing. If it rumbles that bearing is suspected. If not, drive in a circle in the other direction.
Usually a good way to diagnose a bad wheel bearing.
Hope it helps  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

GASMAN

I'll try that and report back.

Note: it doesn't make a lot of noise (I'll roll down the windows). The Tyres rolling on the pavement are louder than the bearing because I do hear Tyre noise but that's it.

I do suspect that the Round About puts extra wear on bearing and where I live we don't have those. Which also may mean that the failure mode is different for my bearings vs. what you see in the UK. However this is just speculation.


Thanks fore the recommendation

Paul

That was something an old mechanic told me. It's worked for me in the past.
You could get some funny looks though Paul  Now at the point when I learn something new something old is lost out the other side !
Now retired so it doesn't matter anymore.
Freelander now gone.

gasman wrote:

Take the car to an empty car park or similar. Drive the car in a right hand circle. The car will lean over to the opposite side as you drive, thus putting more weight on the left hand bearing. If it rumbles that bearing is suspected. If not, drive in a circle in the other direction.
Usually a good way to diagnose a bad wheel bearing.
Hope it helps