Possible Wheel Bearing Failure - Land Rover Forums : Land Rover and Range Rover Forum

SMBryanSr · 01-08-2013, 05:58 PM

I have a 2002 LR Disco II with 127,000 miles that has had a slight roar (speed dependant and still does it if it's in neutral and rolling) from one of the wheel bearings, I suspect and it's been audible for about 2 months, not really getting any worse. I first thought it might be the front drive shaft, even though the old one only had about 4000 miles on a universal joint/centering ball replacement. Before someone asks, I have a brand new completely greaseable front driveshaft and new greaseable rear driveshaft universal, it was roaring before I replaced them. New Rotoflex also and all fluid levels were checked about 1800 miles ago.

I just returned from a 1200 mile vacation trip in the mountains New Year's Day. When I replaced the rear brakes this past weekend, after this trip (replaced the front before, rear after), I found the left rear rotor with grease on it and grease around the bearing housing and a well worn disc pad on the outter and only a half worn inner, a sure sign it's been leaking for a while. It did not appear to be gear oil, but grease. But, when I checked the differential oil, it was about 1/2 a quart low. Not sure where it went, no indication of gear oil leakage that I could find.

Is the fact that there is grease around the bearing housing/rotor a good indication that this is the source of the roar and if the bearing is bad and I replace it, what is the torque for the axle nut preload? I had heard that it was 350 ft/lbs but isn't that a bit high for that nut?

Thanks,
SMBryanSr.

Disco Mike · 01-09-2013, 04:58 AM

Jack up each wheel in question and wiggle it from the 6 and 12 oclock position.
As for the leaker, wither the inner seal in the hub is shot or the o-ring between the hub and the axle housing has failed.
If you need a hub call Paul Grant for a good price on a used one.

helievacpilot · 01-09-2013, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMBryanSr

I have a 2002 LR Disco II with 127,000 miles that has had a slight roar (speed dependant and still does it if it's in neutral and rolling) from one of the wheel bearings, I suspect and it's been audible for about 2 months, not really getting any worse. I first thought it might be the front drive shaft, even though the old one only had about 4000 miles on a universal joint/centering ball replacement. Before someone asks, I have a brand new completely greaseable front driveshaft and new greaseable rear driveshaft universal, it was roaring before I replaced them. New Rotoflex also and all fluid levels were checked about 1800 miles ago.

I just returned from a 1200 mile vacation trip in the mountains New Year's Day. When I replaced the rear brakes this past weekend, after this trip (replaced the front before, rear after), I found the left rear rotor with grease on it and grease around the bearing housing and a well worn disc pad on the outter and only a half worn inner, a sure sign it's been leaking for a while. It did not appear to be gear oil, but grease. But, when I checked the differential oil, it was about 1/2 a quart low. Not sure where it went, no indication of gear oil leakage that I could find.

Is the fact that there is grease around the bearing housing/rotor a good indication that this is the source of the roar and if the bearing is bad and I replace it, what is the torque for the axle nut preload? I had heard that it was 350 ft/lbs but isn't that a bit high for that nut?

Thanks,
SMBryanSr.

350 lb/ft sounds about right. I had to use about a 4ft cheater bar to break mine loose.

SMBryanSr · 01-10-2013, 09:42 AM

Mike, all my ABS equipment is working fine at the moment and the sensor wiring all looks good. With that being said, am I going to be ok pulling and reusing the ABS Sensor in any wheel bearing that I replace and if so, are their any specific things I need to know before pulling and reinstalling the sensor?

Thanks,
SMBryanSr.

acamato · 01-10-2013, 10:16 AM

Here is a step by step on replacing the front hub:

Front HUB - LAND ROVER CLUB V.I.

The nut specs are 490 Nm (360 lbf.ft)

If you want a good price on a non OEM (I think it is a Britparts hub) look here:
http://britishparts.co.uk/products/5481-hub-TAY100050

$229 + shipping. I ordered a Watts linkage busking kit and SLS filter it was $33 for S&H and I got it the next day.

jiri_j · 01-10-2013, 07:10 PM

Had exactly the same issue - left rear hub leaking. First tried to replace the o'ring with no success. New hub solved the problem - you need TAY100050. Comes together with a ABS sensor. Good luck, J

SMBryanSr · 01-14-2013, 01:53 PM

Now I'm stumpped. Yes, the left rear bearing is losing a little grease, but I cannot get any play in it or the left front bearing. I started suspecting it might possibly be the left front bearing making the noise because when you are running about 35-45 mph it's loudest and is even louder if your making a long left curve on the hwy. It is a little quieter from 45 to 65 mph and then starts getting louder again about 65 and up.

Upon raising the left front and left rear tires off the ground though, I can get absolutely no movement 6 to 12 on the wheels, even with fulcrum to lift the wheels. No play in the bearings that I can tell at all.

Now, if it's the CV Joint, will it make a constant roaring noise going straight but make no clicking sound (or any odd sound) when making a 90° turn at a slow speed?

I'm stumpped on this one and the roaring is getting louder and I don't want to just start changing out parts willy-nilly on this thing.

Any ideas?

SMBryanSr.

SMBryanSr · 01-21-2013, 08:45 PM

Ok, so I put the Rover up on 4 jack stands and ran it. I finally figured out the noise is coming from the Right Front wheel. I shut it off and when spinning the tire by hand, I can now hear a slight roar. No play in the wheel at all 6 to 12 though and no error codes.

Could this be the CV Joint or can I pretty much figure on changing the hub?

Thanks.
SMBryanSr

Disco Mike · 01-22-2013, 07:32 AM

So, you are going to have to replace both front hubs, one for a leak and the other for the failing bearing. You should be able to use the old sensors, just clean them up and reset them in the replacement hub.
You can, if money is short, buy good guaranteed used hubs, call Paul Grant, can save you over half the expense of a new one.

SMBryanSr · 01-25-2013, 06:41 PM

So, I found that the rear bearing was not leaking grease, but it is in fact gummed up 90wt with sand and road dirt mixed in, looked like grease. Pulled the rear bearing out enought to clean the groove (which had rust in it), installed a new o-ring on it bolted it back in place and all looks good.

I replaced the front right bearing tonight and once I had the old one removed, it was DEFINEATELY the bad one. It had no play in it and had not triggered any ABS codes, but by rotating it by hand, the bearing was definately failing and roaring/grinding.

I had been dreading replacing the bearing from some of the stories on here, but after I started, it only took about an hour start to finish. Of course already having a a big puller and a 600lb torque wrench helped...LOL! All those years of working on Tugboat engines growing up in my family's tugboat company payed off on that one.

So, I guess all is well with the Disco!

Disco Mike, thanks for all the insight and help and thanks to all the others that contributed to this thread.

SMBryanSr