Rear bearing

[portse7en]

Hi guys, I went to one of the bmw workshop to change my rear tyre bearing. The mechanic said to me that the bearing is totally fine. Only something wrong with my rear tyres. Im quite sure that the rear bearing make the sounds very irritating. Then the mechanic doesnt want to change the bearing. What should i do? does anyone experience this?

 

[Vincent Hor]

Your mechanic should know what he is talking about. If you are still doubtful get a second opinion.

 

[LCP]

Easy way to find out, swap the rear tyres, the best is with a similar model and with no known rear end noise.

If it's the rear wheel bearing, it will (most of the time) will be from one side only and it makes a roaring noise that gets louder with speed. Mine went bust nearly 2 months ago, and the moment my mechanic test drove my car, he immediately confirmed my diagnosis of a busted left rear wheel bearing...

The amount of labour involved to change and pump in the left rear wheel bearing on my E36 is another story altogether...

 

[portse7en]

The mechanic said may be the tyre and the tye size. Before I went back to Kampong, I changed to new tyre (Falken) 245/40/18. STILL along my journey I can hear the irritating sounds.

Is that because of the tyre is too wide? I dont think so.

 

[portse7en]

Bro LCP,
Tell me the full version of story of the case. The cost and everything
Thank you

 

[Vincent Hor]

New tyres should not give you tire noise. I run 265/35/18 at my rear and it's ok. Suggest that you get another opinion from another mechanic

 

[scin]

Maybe he doesn't want to do it coz it's a lot of work! Not worth his while....
Get a tire shop guy to test drive to confirm it's not the tires, then change mechanic.

 

[portse7en]

Maybe he doesn't want to do it coz it's a lot of work! Not worth his while....
Get a tire shop guy to test drive to confirm it's not the tires, then change mechanic.

I thought the same thing.. scin

 

[LCP]

port7,

To change the left rear wheel bearing, you need to remove or loosen plenty of things... hafta unbolt driveshaft from the wheel hub (that goes without saying), hafta unbolt the absorber from the mounting points on the arms, hafta loosen the exhaust pipings... of course the exhaust piping is for the driveshaft to clear when removed.

Then come the actual work of getting the (usually stuck) bearing housing out of the hub... And the new bearings have to be pumped in... and finally the whole refitting job.

My bearings costed me RM105 (dunno what brand, but German made), labour was RM80, and labour "to press in" the bearings was RM40... I think they took 2 hours or more...

But if it's the right rear bearing, I think it's a little bit less hassle because the exhaust pipings are not there...

 

[portse7en]

Thank you LCP for the long explaination.
No wonder that mechanic gaves me a lot of reasons. I can see a lot of works to do. But I dont mind to take out RM300 from my pocket, as long as I can throw away the irritating sounds.

Do you think I should go to MSpeed? My next service just around the corner. May be while servicing my car, they can do the bearing. Are they good in that?

 

[Vincent Hor]

This kind of job sap sap sui for Ah Meng (M Speed). But I wouldn't wait till the next service. Just pop over there and get his opinion first. At least it clears your doubts about anything more serious than just the bearings.