... are coming from the front end of Sparky. I'm getting a hollow, almost squeaking sound (think like a squeaky wheel, but a LOT deeper and more hollow) when I'm going forward or turning. it's very noticable under 30mph when coasting with the clutch in, and gets louder when I turn. when I'm going in reverse, the noise isn't there at all. I checked the tire pressures, thinking it was a tire going down (runflats = can't look at the tire to see if they need air...), and the tire pressures are both above 30psi (35.5 for the LF and 32.5 for the RF after 2 or 3 tries to get the pressure gauge lined up right in the dark), so I'm thinking either the outer CV joint or the wheel bearings are starting to go? anyone have any insight?
What kind of car are we listening to?
Off the top of my noggin, I'm thinking wheel bearing.
I second wheel bearing. I've never heard a CV squeak. Pop and click, but not squeak. Maybe a brake shroud touching the rotor or a rock between the caliper and rotor. You might also check the squeal indicators on the front pads. They are usually higher pitched, but worth a look. I would start at the wheel bearings though.
@ Jensenman, it's a R53 Mini Cooper S
@ Toyman: I doubt it's a rock rubbing on the rotor, there was a H-Stock Mazda3 sedan running Kuhmo R-comps at an autocross a few months ago that kept picking up pebbles and depositing them between the brake shroud and the rotor and it made this gawdawful loud squealing noise until the rock was dislodged, ended up plaguing them all day, no idea what they finally ended up doing about it.
I'll get the front end up on jackstands tomorrow and turn the tires by hand and listen with an automotive stethoscope (27+ years old but it seems to still work fine). if it is the wheel bearings, how long is it safe to leave them? I won't need the car to get around from next friday afternoon until next monday morning, is it safe to leave it until then or should I try to get squeezed in some time after school this week?
If it's bearings I would get to them as quick as possible. You really don't want to tear up a hub assembly if one of the bearings is seizing.
I'm with Toyman, don't put off a bearing replacement. When checking, do this: jack up the car, grab the top and bottom of the tire and try to 'rock' it. You should have around 1/8" or so of movement. Check the brake shrouds carefully, if one is touching but is not bent that indicates the bearing on that side has shifted. Not a good thing! Of course if the shroud is bent, there's your problem.
'Louder when you turn' can be a clue. The sound will probably be different when turning different directions. Usually, the sound will be worse when the bearing is more heavily loaded, i.e. if it's the left front wheel bearing the noise will be worse in a right turn (the weight will shift to the left front wheel bearing).
it used to be the RF wheel that made noise when turning left, but I just put that down to the tire might be a bit low , but when I thought of that I was never in a position to test it. now it's the LF wheel that's making LOADS more noise, it's almost painful to hear when I'm making a right turn, regardless of speed. and now, when I'm backing up at really low speeds, I can hear something abnormal and almost feel something through the body of the car and it feels like a slight grinding. no actual noise, it's more of a feel thing. the earliest I can get it to the mini dealership is tuesday, unfortunately, since the service department is closed for the holidays tomorrow and never has sunday hours. I'm hoping they'll be able to get me in and out on tuesday afternoon, since I don't know if they do loaner cars or not
I just got Sparky back from the dealer yesterday, and they diagnosed it as a torn strut mount. (?) on the drive home, I didn't hear the hollow noise at all, so the strut mount fixed the problem, so I'm gonna go with that. I don't get in any way, shape, or form how this diagnosis fits the symptoms, but oh well, thats why they pay THEM to fix these cars, not me
