I hit a massive pothole on 101 a few weeks ago which bent my gold BBS wheel... Right after I hit the hole my car started to make a warbling sound past around 35-40mph and would get worse as I went faster... It's like a "Whooop whooop whoop whooop whoop" sound, the faster you go the faster the noise repeats itself. The noise is coming from the rear pass side. It's def related to the pothole because I never had an issue before I hit it, the noise literally started RIGHT after I hit the hole. I don't know how I avoided hitting that pothole with my front wheel. Nothing looks bent or weird.

I thought it was due to a bent wheel (wheel was def bent) so I went and replaced all four tires as well as that particular wheel, but that sound, although not as bad as before is still there. I'm thinking it's the wheel bearing. It's def coming from the rear pass side wheel and it started right when I hit that damn pothole, no probs what so ever before I hit that damn thing!



What do you guys think? Typical wheel bearing, eh? The impact was pretty f'ing harsh so I'm pretty sure, just wanted to see if there's a quick way of checking. I jacked the car up to see if there was any play in the wheel, seems as though there's a little bit but I'm not sure how much play there should be.



If it is a wheel bearing, how much do you think it will cost for the part alone? Not including the labor and alignment that go with this install.



Any input is greatly appreciated.


PS: There goes my Xmas gift ME: "Honey, can you buy me a wheel bearing for Xmas?". Dammit!

 

I did my wheel bearing on the front right.. There should be NO play in the wheel at all when you shake it. If so its the bearing most likley. Don't let it go to long like i did or else it will wear other parts. Mine was pretty bad and ended up wearing out the knuckle too.

I had to replace the knuckle, bearing, hub, axle, and ball joint.

If i remmember right.. the knuckle was a dealer part only too.

Bearing was about $65
Knuckle was about $275
Axle was about $75
Hub was like.. $75?

SOmething like that.

Fix it before it gets like mine!

 

^^^ Thanks dude, input is greatly appreciated.


Now to find someone who can replace a wheel bearing sometime soon (as in ASAP, I know it's almost Xmas but ME > XMAS!!! )

 

Haha no worries. Let me know if you have any questions.. I replaced one part at a time trying to fix mine so i got pretty good a tearing out the whole knuckle in under 13 minutes start to finish!

I don't have a press so i did all the work and then took the knuckle and new bearing down to a local shop and had them press the bearing out and new one in. (think it coast like 20 bucks or so) Everything else isn't to hard.

Good luck!

 

When mine went out (worn out, not broken) there was a little play in the wheel, not a tremendous amount. When the car was on the ground if I shook the wheel it sounded like BB's rolling around. I had it replaced at LIC for somewhere around $350.

 

Definitely sounds like a wheel bearing. If you have a wrx I have both rear knuckles at my folk's house. If it's an Sti I have one rear 5x100 but don't remember which side. Would just have to run over n check. Shoot me a pm and I can install for cheap any morning this week or all day Xmas eve.

Located in The City