Wheel bearing gone bad or brake issue?

[Tweek43110]

Im having an issue with my car that I can quite figure out.

When im accelerating or rolling it feels like my tire is slightly out of balance (sound in video). It makes the wobbly noise and the steering wheel has a tiny vibration to it. Thing is I just had all my tires balanced and checked and the noise did not go away. I recently had to replace my rotors because they were either warped or set wrong on the hub and would cause a vibration when I pressed the brake pedal. Now there are heavy groves on the outside top and inside center of the rotors (pics at the bottom), I also noticed the caliper pistons rubber cover is cracked and prabably gone bad because it looks as if the piston isnt evenly distributing pressure on the brake pads. Another issue is when making a right turn my car makes a chirping noise (sound in video)

Video of out of balance sound and chirping:

You Tube

You Tube

Pics of outside rotor:

Pics of inside rotor:

I also recently changed my struts. My rear sway links were toast and had to be drilled out and replaced so I took a look at the front ones and they are cracked/spitting out grease. I dont think this is causing the problem but plan on replacing them soon regardless.

My dad seems to think it is the wheel bearing going but I think its a brake issue, he knows alot more than I do though so I thought Id ask you guys before buying any parts because Im on a tight budget right now.

[mr1114]

Does the noise change or go away when veering left or right while driving? If so, can be a symptom of a bad bearing.

Easy check would be to raise each tire, hold it at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position, shake slightly and feel for any amount play. If its loose, then its bad. Also might as well shake at 9 and 3 position to check other front end parts.

If no play is felt, with wheels off the ground still (transmission in N if checking the front), hold one of the coils of the spring with one hand while rotating the tire with the other. If a bearing is bad you will feel vibrations or "roughness" on the coil. If that happens, the difference from the other wheels where the bearings are ok should be pretty obvious. Lot of times a bearing will make noise when driving but wont be bad enough to have play or looseness. I've diagnosed bad bearings using this method on several occasions.

The chirping may be coming from the bearing also.

[sam333]

Jack up the car and take out your brake pads and spin the wheel. Sometimes though if the problem isnt real bad the problem will only show up at speed with weight on the wheel, but its a place to start.

[Tweek43110]

Ok so its definately the wheel bearing and it crapped out on me today. I have a replacement and my buddys shop has a hydraulic press.

All we need to know is what size the nut is on the wheel hub so we dont strip it out

[Kyle Hamelin]

This might be it but did you have all four wheels aligned after your struts were changed? If the problem didn't happened before you changed the struts that might be it. After I had mine done the guy told me to have it done after. So I did and it rides straight as an arrow.

[Reiser86]

Originally Posted by mr1114

If no play is felt, with wheels off the ground still (transmission in N if checking the front), hold one of the coils of the spring with one hand while rotating the tire with the other. If a bearing is bad you will feel vibrations or "roughness" on the coil. If that happens, the difference from the other wheels where the bearings are ok should be pretty obvious. Lot of times a bearing will make noise when driving but wont be bad enough to have play or looseness. I've diagnosed bad bearings using this method on several occasions.

The chirping may be coming from the bearing also.

Which coils are you refering to when you're checking to see if the front bearing is worn?

[mr1114]

Originally Posted by Reiser86

Which coils are you refering to when you're checking to see if the front bearing is worn?

A coil on the spring. Wrap your hand around it while turning the tire with other hand.

[Reiser86]

Originally Posted by mr1114

A coil on the spring. Wrap your hand around it while turning the tire with other hand.

Thanks. I'm going to try that out. Mine makes some kind of a moaning noise while travelling in highway speeds and the car shakes a little bit.