Bearings, Finding what is causing the noise. Options

[FrankyFigs]

I recently test drove a 95 Celica GT with 131000 miles on it and I had my father sit in the passanger seat. The car met all my expectations and the only thing I heard was the tires which I hear are loud in the first place.

My fathers tells me not to buy the car because he thinks there could be a bearing going out. He says it was making a wuhwuhwuhwuh sound yet I did not hear a thing. I also had my window down so I could listen for these things yet he had his rolled up.

Anyone have any input as to what this sound could be? I did not want him confused between loud tires and a bearing going out. Also, if you do know what the problem could be, could you let me know what I would need to do to fix this if I were to purchase the vehicle? He wants me to test drive another vehicle and that I would notice a difference but if I never heard the sound in the first place I hardly think I would. Any input would be appreciated.

[LewFX]

get the car cheap and fix the bearing problem

[tin_foil]

Sounds familiar. I had/have that problem. My ride was really noisey, and it turned out to be two things. I did need new wheel bearings, but also my rubber is all bumpy (who knows WHAT the previous owner was doing ). Either way its a simple fix, bearings aren't that hard to replace, and you can get them for under $150 if you really look around. I would use the noise as a bargainning tool to get the car for less, than just either drive with it (I drove with my bad wheel bearings for so long they started makeing hideous clunking noises every time I braked ), or just fix it.

[playr158]

ok there is a really easy way to test this

traditional easy way recommended is jack the wheel suspected of bearing problems up, (don't remove wheel), with it jacked up place your hands at 9 and 3 then push in and out alternating sides, (ie in on 3, out on 9;then in on 9 and out on 3), if you can move the wheel and have play you defenitly have a bearing problem, if it doesn't move at all then your fine

[FrankyFigs]

Alright thanks guys. I called the guy today and he said that any problems that I saw I could work with him on the price.

He did tell me that he has checked the bearings when he bought the car and they checked out ok but he thinks that the sound would be related to the tires. I did run my hand over the tread and noticed a real rough tread pattern but it wasnt wearing out one side or the other.

I remember reading in these forums about tire "hopping" that was asociated with the engine mounts. Im not sure if the "hopping" would relate to rough tires but all 4 tires were not going bald on the inside or outside. Anyway, reading on in that forum lead to the cure being some polyester mount inserts which I have no idea how to install.

If any of this sounds familiar please give me some more information on it. I would appreciate the help and any other information on this car.

[playr158]

the wohwohwohwoh has also been associated with improper tire balance over a period of time will make a funny "wavey" pattern in the tire as well with no particular wear on one side, but all over the tire
(this happend to one of my friends geo)

[94celicadude]

just a little FYI, the wheel bearings are pressed into the hubs with about 10 tons of force. I too thought that my wheel bearing were fine just by doing the 9 and 3 check, until i decided to take them apart and put new ones in. Turns out that they had completely deteriorated and were eating themselves up as i drove. So for a car with about 131K it seems safe to say that i would change the wheel bearings.

[bufferdan]

Sounds like the tires are "feathered/cupped" very common when it comes to performance tires on sports car. Sometimes they get so bad that it sounds just like a wheel bearing... Even if it is the wheel bearings they are only about $50/each and any shop can press the old out and new ones in.

[hitcachi]

Bearings suck to replace, since they are pressed in. I would take it too a shop to have it done.

[Nibbe]

I also have the same problem right now.

[PLA-04Y]

Man is this a common problem with 6gc s or What??? Does anyone have a manual or instructions on doing this DIY?

This post has been edited by PLA-04Y: Dec 23, 2006 - 1:15 AM

[Kwanza26]

Are the tires bald?

Anyway... bearings aren't too bad to replace. Buy the bearing... which is around 50.00 then remove your spindle and take it to a shop. They'll usually charge about an hour or so labor to press out the old and re-press in the new bearing, if the shop is honest with you.

[G3D45]

ok there is a really easy way to test this

traditional easy way recommended is jack the wheel suspected of bearing problems up, (don't remove wheel), with it jacked up place your hands at 9 and 3 then push in and out alternating sides, (ie in on 3, out on 9;then in on 9 and out on 3), if you can move the wheel and have play you defenitly have a bearing problem, if it doesn't move at all then your fine

If you can move the wheel at 9 and 3, where could be problem of worn joints (or links, hinges, knuckles - I dont't know sure-enough name ).