Tyer rubbing noise

[Ewok]

Hey guys,

Got a question for yas. I recently had my 70k service done and the car has been running beautifully (as expected...) However!

When I got it back from teh garage and was driving home I noticed that the steering wheel was rather off centre, so I gave my mechanic a call and asked him what that was all about, so he told me they did a tyre rotation when they did the service. Fair enough, it's pretty SOP these days. So they swapped Front left with Rear Right and Front Right with Rear Left. *wtf?* I was under the impression you swapped out the front with the rears on the same side? Anyways.

I took me car down to see me mate at bobjayne north perth and got a wheel alignment done and straightened out the steering wheel, all good. However, I am getting a weird scrubbing/vibration feeling though the steering wheel and can hear it too, when I am at around 80kph or above, and it's predominantly when I am turning the wheel to the right. I have checked the mudflaps and guards and theres no obstruction there. It feels like it is coming from the front right. I am thinking it might be uneven tyre wear but I am not too sure. As far as I am concerned with tyre wear being uneven theres only 1 solution .............. BURNOUTS. ahem. However, any suggestions? Could the tyres be imbalanced also?

Cheers guys,

-Chris

[PaulSV6]

Only thing i can think of is uneven tyre wear, when they have done the rotation.
Did they do a balance?

[Ewok]

Nah no balance done as yet, just alignment. Thinking of taking it back for balance though.

[danja]

Might sound stupid, but are they directional tyres??

[Ewok]

actually I think they may be. They fronts are Bridgestone Potenza's and the rear are Bridgestone Firehawks. I am pretty sure they are directional ........... Guess that means reverse the tyres front and rear? (as in across the body not the length, just for clarification. I had to scratch my head a little to figure out how to word it lol)

[andyman]

actually I think they may be. They fronts are Bridgestone Potenza's and the rear are Bridgestone Firehawks. I am pretty sure they are directional ........... Guess that means reverse the tyres front and rear? (as in across the body not the length, just for clarification. I had to scratch my head a little to figure out how to word it lol)

basically have the tyres with most tread on the front, and the same tyre on each axle, <thats not law with radial tyres, but i prefer to do it like that,

make sure the directional tyres are the right way round, the arrow on the tyre should be facing forward

[PaulSV6]

basically have the tyres with most tread on the front, and the same tyre on each axle, <thats not law with radial tyres, but i prefer to do it like that,

make sure the directional tyres are the right way round, the arrow on the tyre should be facing forward

See how ya go with that, if ya still get the noise u need a balance.

[danja]

actually I think they may be. They fronts are Bridgestone Potenza's and the rear are Bridgestone Firehawks. I am pretty sure they are directional ........... Guess that means reverse the tyres front and rear? (as in across the body not the length, just for clarification. I had to scratch my head a little to figure out how to word it lol)

Yeah, they should have an arrow on showing the right direction if they are, just make sure they are all pointing the right way.

Then find a new mechanic

[Ewok]

I had a look at the tyres last night and there are no directional arrows I could see on the tyres. The Firehawks are the TZ100's and their on the front, the Potenza's are on the rear, and that's not where the noise/vibration is coming from. This is really bloody weird >.< Looks like it might well be a case of needing a balance. The tyres aren't scolloped or anything either, they are smooth and even, and theres no separation at all.

[Leebo]

you know what are the tires cheap because sometimes if your driving on the cheapest of tyres they wear unevenly and in odd places and you suffer having to throw them away with lots or tread because the inside id bald or something.

[Ewok]

nah, they're not cheap tyres. Bridgestone Potenza and Bridgestone Firehawk's are usually around the $250 -$300 mark each. Had a set of Yokohama C Drives on my ole' VS ute they were gooooooood tyres.

[danja]

nah, they're not cheap tyres. Bridgestone Potenza and Bridgestone Firehawk's are usually around the $250 -$300 mark each. Had a set of Yokohama C Drives on my ole' VS ute they were gooooooood tyres.

If you liked the C-Drives, try the Advan Sports

[Ewok]

So! Went and got a wheel balance all round. Didn't do a thing. The wheels were balanced find already, however I took it to a mechanic just around the corner, recommended me by a mate at the tyre place. Had the mechanic take the car for a spin around the block with me and he instantly felt it at around 75-80km/ph (this was Friday arvo). It's in the shop at the moment, looks like the front left bearing hub. Of all the bloody things .... anyone ever heard of this happening with a car that's only 3-4 years old? Or even better, anyone know what causes it ???

[impulsive]

From my encounter's with hubs on Landrover 110's and trailers, Hubs generally wear out from too much heat, lack of lubrication, pressure from hard steering or rough terrain. Many cases of Hubs popping off the axle exposing the hub axle are known to any driver of any Military Land Rovers, as they do a lot of 4x4 driving over some Awesome Terrain. I have replaced countless during my experiences.. But the above mentioned i have found to be the cause.

I replaced a hub on my Jet Ski trailer after negotiating a tight section of road then navigating my way around a tight roundabout, the trailer must have slid a fraction causing unnecessary pressure and strain on the hub causing the 'hub cover' to pop off exposing the hub axle, and stressing the bearings to the point of breaking.

[Ewok]

yeah, the problem with bearing hubs these days is you can't just take em apart, replace the bearings and the seals and then bolt em' back in. They have a fkn seal/flange arrangement so as if you take it apart, you aint getting it back together again. Just makes em easier to install on the assembly line etc.

[impulsive]

surely you would be able to repalce the whole hub, cant see it being to expensive, trailer hub cost $35

[Ewok]

Yeah, was replaced of course, cost $130 for new bearing hub, genuine from Holden.