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MG MGF Technical - Wheel Bearing...?

Folks,

No sooner had I replaced the rear bell crank assembly, when all of a sudden, I started to hear what sounded very like a metal on metal grinding noise from the nearside rear wheel... intermittently mind.

Kinda sounded like the front did (on braking), just before I replaced the front pads. But hang on, this noise happens when I'm *not* braking.

Dare I say it? Wheel bearing? Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Also, if it is, what kind of damage can I do to my car, myself and my environment if it completely lets go at speed?

Ta,
Col
Colin McIlwaine

Wheel bearing will sound louder if you load the wheel, try some high speed corners and compare left/right turns, that said a dodgy wheel bearing will make the back end more twitchy, and if it siezes then you'll be "handbraking" on the motorway (never heard of this happening yet though)!
Will Munns

< "handbraking" on the motorway >

On dear God.

Yes, Will, it gets worse on fast cornering... or indeed slow cornering or on the straight outside my house.

I checked out Dieter's website... doesn't really look like a DIY job...?

Take it easy,
Col
Colin McIlwaine

Okay, caution to the wind, I ordered the bearing kit from B&G (MGF HUB BEARING KIT FRT & REAR (GHK1366)). I'll give it a bash, see what happens. Famous last words ;-(
Colin McIlwaine


Good luck! :-)

Vivid memories of doing a metro one years back. Not a job I enjoyed - made worse by the fact it was -20 degrees at the time!!! Ouch!

I cheated and got the garage to replace mine on the 'F.

I ran on it for ages before replacing it... although for obvious reasons I'm not going to suggest that you do that!!

I found I could create the sound while turning slightly to the left while coasting in a straight line. Jack the car up and give the wheel a *really* good shake and see if you can detect movement. I didn't at first... but it got worse 'til I could. :-)

P.
Paul Nothard

[Sorry - way off topic this:] Paul, is your email working okay?
Rob Bell

Thanks for the encouragment, Paul!

I drove the home last night with the radio off and the windows down to see if I could determine any consistency in the noise:

o Potholes/uneven road surface
o Turning *right* at virtually any speed

It's the rear nearside, so scenario two would seem to suggest that it's worse when the load is reduced. I'm not savvy enough with the specific bearing mechanics in the F to know why this would be ;-( Also, it's contrary to Will's advice above.

Here's a further question: can the bearing replacement be achieved *without* the use of a hydraulic press? (No access, m'fraid, and I won't let myself be fleeced by Rover.)

Handheld bearing puller for extraction? No use for getting the housing out of the hub, I'd think? Mallet for re-insertion? I *do* have a relatively heavy-duty drill press... maybe I'd get enough psi with that?

Thanks again,
Col

Colin McIlwaine

Rob: Email should be fine. Try work one? (@intel.com)

Colin:
I'm not the best to 'debug' which wheel is at fault. :-)
I only worked it out when the wheel moved enough for the brakes to rub. Ooops! Even then, I was convinced that it was a front wheel making the noise!!! (I'd just done the front breaks! Doh!)
My deductive powers aside...
When I did the metro one - which is pretty close the the 'F one - the bearing had actually worked its way loose and just dropped out!! Obviously two new items to buy now! :-(
When putting everything back together a vice and large socket was used to clamp the two together and keep everything straight. Dead easy.
However this was all with a car I didn't care about.

Hope this helps in some way... possibly contact the technical helpline of the club for more detailed info?

P.
Paul Nothard

Ta for that, Paul.

Okay, here's the game plan: buy a small bearing puller... and do a Heath Robinson with a mallet, drill press, metal-workers vice and elbow grease.

Having a go at it on Friday, so I might take some pics... from inside of Accident & Emergency ;-O *@#$!

Col
Colin McIlwaine

This thread was discussed between 16/02/2004 and 17/02/2004

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