After finally determining my B4's right hand front wheel bearing was bad I changed it Friday. The local shop extracted $65 for the privilege of pressing the old one out and the new one in, after lecturing me that amateurs should never check their oil never mind remove the hub. Perhaps he was right - my horrible rumbling and whining continues. The only improvement is on left turns; where before the rumbling was much worse (leading to my RH WB diagnosis) it now makes little difference.
So I have several questions.
Did my friendly wrencher destroy the bearing while installing it (it didn't feel too smooth when I got in back)?
If not what else could be causing the problem? Do the these transmissions whine real bad before they die?
I have a second bearing I intended to install on the left since I figured both had gone about the same mileage, but don't want to waste my time with that if I should be looking towards the transmission or redoing the right hand bearing. I tended towards the wheel bearings because the noise varied with direction and suspension load. Now it doesn't, but is getting rapidly worse to the point that conversation is hard above 45mph (I now have to borrow a gasser to go out of town so I need this sorted to save my Derv reputation!). There is no play in any bearing and they don't generate excess heat. The noise seems most definitely to be from the front rather than the rear. Tranny shifts fine and lube level is OK.
Any ideas appreciated!
So I have several questions.
Did my friendly wrencher destroy the bearing while installing it (it didn't feel too smooth when I got in back)?
If not what else could be causing the problem? Do the these transmissions whine real bad before they die?
I have a second bearing I intended to install on the left since I figured both had gone about the same mileage, but don't want to waste my time with that if I should be looking towards the transmission or redoing the right hand bearing. I tended towards the wheel bearings because the noise varied with direction and suspension load. Now it doesn't, but is getting rapidly worse to the point that conversation is hard above 45mph (I now have to borrow a gasser to go out of town so I need this sorted to save my Derv reputation!). There is no play in any bearing and they don't generate excess heat. The noise seems most definitely to be from the front rather than the rear. Tranny shifts fine and lube level is OK.
Any ideas appreciated!