Bad wheel bearing?

[Kona Bear]

I am having this metallic rattling noise coming from the passenger front wheel.
Had it up on jackstands this morning and there are no loose parts (clips, ABS sensors etc...) around. I could duplicate the sound spining the wheel by hand.
I am thinking it's a bearing. Anyone else think the same?

Had it into tunedub last week for a wheel alignment as it was pulling to the right and it was not doing it at that point. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

M

[Stonewall]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

Did you grab the wheel by both sides and rock it back and forth, if it moves the bearing is screwed. If not if could just be a rock between the pad and rotor.

[Khyron]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

I had a rock between the rotor shield and the rotor on my Sub and it was a godawful noise. Only rattled when turning left, at certain speeds, etc.

[stefan]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

metallic rattling doesn't make me think bearing. Wrong sound, IMO.

[Benjamin]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

Sounds more like the backing plate for the disc then anything.

[Kona Bear]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

Thanks for the help. I did grab the disk from the 3 & 9 oclock postions and rocked it back and forth and it moved a little then stopped. It sort of sounds like rolling around some loose change in an empty tin can on the floor if that helps. I will check the brakes again when I get back into town on Monday (not driving the Jetta).

M

[Kordain]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

that sort of noise is too high pitched to be a bearing (normally). the bearings usually give a grinding rumbling noise or a low freq hum at higher speeds. if its sounds like a tin can then you should maybe look for something that has the same thickness in metal as a tin can as that would create the same type noise.

side note, have you rolled your wheel around off the car? it may be something inside the tire hitting the middle? any vibration when driving? try swapping tires left to right?

I agree it sounds more like the backing plate as well but im not sure what would grab that unless it had been bent

[Mcrow]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

My car has the same noise, my tire has wobble as well. My bet says its the tie rod ends are worn. I am too lazy to anything about it though, the noise is pretty intermittent. And since Tunedub probably tweaked the tie rod to adjust your toe on the alignment, who knows?

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

a rock caught in between the rotor and the abs ring.

[Kona Bear]

Re: Bad wheel bearing?

Thanks for the suggestions. I have had no luck finding the rattle myself. I'm going to take into George and see what he says. I will post what it is. Stay tuned.

M