mattski

I have had a really horrible day today...

My car got a little bit broken too

Basically, here is the scenario:

I am very careful in snow, 5-10mph max, anyway, went around a bend, escort coming the other way sideways. Two options, hit escort or swerve and hit kerb, I chose the latter.

Whack, front passenger wheel into the kerb with a clunk. That's not good Have a look and the alloy wishbone is knackered. Luckily I am near a really good mates and after some frantic phone calls manage to find one (thanks Andy!) near Buxton!

So, in his 3 litre, rear-wheel drive merc we go. The route we took gradually got worse and worse and was eventually blizard conditions with about 8" of snow and 50-100' drop to the right. How the hell my mate got his car through it I don't know, but he did.

Anyway, reached Andy's place and got another alloy wishbone. Back to Coventry we head.

Got back to Coventry and the wishbone went back on, great, no probs.

Took the car for a spin and steering, tracking everything is fine BUT... there is now an 'intermittent' rubbing noise that only becomes apparent at about 15mph, gets louder upto about 40mph and then quietens down a little. I have tried braking and seeing if there is any pull to the left or right and that is fine. I thought it may have been a spoke on the wheel catching the caliper (i.e. buckled wheel) but that is fine.

So.... we have a hunch that it is a collapsed wheel bearing, does that sound plausable? i.e. the impact got the wishbone and smashed the wheel bearing in the process?

So, my car is nearly normal once again but suggestions on a postcard as to what the noise is !

I am now going to drink some beer!
Matt

jjones

sorry to hear your bad news

sounds like something is bent.

You could test the wheel bearing by jacking wheel off floor and checking for play. Whilst the wheel is in the air spin the wheel and see if there is any unexpected friction from the bearing.

if in doubt get it checked out (by the professionals)

mattski

hiya,

we checked everything whilst jacked up regarding bent bits, compared with drivers side and everything looks fine. We did think of jacking it up for the wheel bearing but plan to do it tomorrow, how can we spin the wheel individually tho???

ta,
Matt

jjones

disconnect the driveshaft

it shouldn't matter - if the wheels are touching the floor (or wedge blocks under them) does the scoob diff not just turn the easiest to turn wheel (by no means an expert and it may not)

of you can also tell a fcuked wheel bearing when driving. if the noise ceases whilst turning either around left or right hand bends (i.e. driving at about 40 m.p.h. around an "easy" right (i.e. could do 50-60 around) then chances are the bearings gone. but - could be CV joint. to test this put the car in reverse and full lock (one direction then the other) and drive steadily - if there is any clicking/clunking sound then the cv is buggered - could have happened when you hit the kerb - they are quite weak when pushed/pulled (depending on the angle wheel was when contacted kerb)

hope all works out well,

mattski

hiya,

thanks for the advice, will try the reverse thing tomorrow... I haven't really noticed if the noise goes when going around a bend, was too busy listening to it!

The CV joint did occur to us as well so will check that too... sigh... luckily it is nothing major and can be fixed... panel damage would have been more upsetting!

oh, happy new year btw... this one has certainly gone out with a bang..grrrr!

Matt

Shaun

Matt,

Unlucky m8, did the same thing this time last year in my golf. Smashed the lower arm, broke driveshaft at the CV joint and bent the track rod!!!!

As has been said before, to check the wheel bearing, jack that wheel up and try to move it side to side for play.

Shaun.

mattski

ouch Shaun!

Did you get it all fixed o.k.? This isn't as bad as that but is really annoying just the same ... grrrr

Dave T-S

Mattski

Sorry to hear about the incident.

Sounds more like a damaged CV joint than wheel bearing.

Make sure you get a full geometry check - camber/KPI/tracking on that corner - uprights, steering arms and ball joints bend surprisingly easily. Whilst cast aluminium will fracture, steel will just bend, frequently with no outward signs, causing geometry to be out.

I have long been of the opinion that if given the choice of hit another car or hit the scenery, providing it is a low enough impact to not cause injury, and the other car is at fault, hit the other car.

Reasoning - get them/their insurers to pay for the damage they have caused. Otherwise, you hit the kerb, and they sail off into the sunset unscathed having caused you to damage your own car that you have to pay for.

buddy

Hi Matt,
Sorry to hear about your problem mate, I would take the car to your nearest scoob specialist as you have almost certainly damaged something that needs professional help.
Regards,
Buddy

mattski

hiya,

got it looked at today and it is definately the wheel bearing, am getting it fixed tomorrow and will then get a geometry check...phew!

KF

I'll throw this one to the collective...

Similar to the above story, and posted elsewhere on this board is my tale of woe.

Back came around on ice and klobbered kerb at slightly above walking pace. One slightly bent nearside rear alloy (simple fix) and a surprisingly off standard geometry.
Camber -0.3 as opposed to -1.17.
Toe reading of -0.64 as opposed to 0.0.

The toe is now sorted, but the geometry readings suggest that something is bent. Any ideas what it could be, and the cost of sorting it out?

Current suggestions are strut or hub. Any advances?
Cheers
KF.

waynelivesey

Sounds like the rear wishbone (trailing arm) is bent.Wishbones are usually designed to bend under impact.This is to prevent the force of the impact damaging the chassis or wishbone mounting points.