Anyone have a good way to identify which wheel bearing is growling?

 

I'm pretty sure it is left of car.  Not sure front or rear.

 

Jacked up car, no movement in any of 4 wheels I could detect pull and pushing top and bottom of tyre.

 

It's a 2016MY Mk7 golf 4motion, but some commonality with the mk3.

Edited 7 June, 20214 yr by TheClient

1 hour ago, TheClient said:

Jacked up car, no movement in any of 4 wheels I could detect pull and pushing top and bottom of tyre.

That's my usual method, assuming it's a wheel bearing and not brake wear or a stone under a spray shield.

Go round some bends and listen if suspect one gets louder under load ,its usually an easy way to tell 

Yes, I've replaced one or two in other cars before and always could detect it with movement.  I'm 95% it's a bearing. It's a drone that picks up after 35mph.   It changes slightly, backs of a bit steering to the left.   It seems to get a bit louder after 5 / 10 min driving and then just stays the same.  It varies with road speed not engine revs or if your drop down a few gears.

 

But no movement. A vw specialist I dropped into said it "shouldn't" normally be very hard to identify but they don't always show movement unless very bad. Then he said he can't look at it for 5 weeks! But any garage should be able to... Then again, I feel a little defeated, I haven't paid for anything other than a aircon recharge and MOT in 6 years.... DIY for everything I can.

 

I don't think it is a stone. I've had a look to. I could here a few bits if corroded brake disc or a little stone in between the two faces of the ventilated disc upon turning the wheel but I don't think that would sound the same.   It's such a familiar bearing growl / droning noise... I even pulled the 4wd haldex fuse and drove around the block but exactly the same, I'd already changed the fluid and it looked good, so I thought unlikely...

 

28 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

That's my usual method, assuming it's a wheel bearing and not brake wear or a stone under a spray shield.

 

3 minutes ago, Mickvrs220 said:

Go round some bends and listen if suspect one gets louder under load ,its usually an easy way to tell 

Yeah, I have done. it does seem to back off turning left. But not entirely.  Front or rear....

I had one at the front that was quite loud and I thought  should have been easy to detect which side, but none of the usual methods could pin it down. In the end the only way the tech at the dealership could find it was by running it in gear on the ramp and listening with a stethoscope.

Wheel bearing drone on mine....convinced it was nearside, even diagnosed as nearside, changed the bearing still droned....changed the off side....issue sorted. 

Yes, thanks all. At least I'm not alone. I may try a local garage and see if they can run it on the ramp as @lastgaspsuggests. 

I found a local garage who agreed to have a quick look between jobs.

 

He agreed it was hard to isolate. From driving he agreed left side, probably rear as it doesn't change that much when loading unloading.

 

Then he put it on a ramp and hand spun with stethoscope. Thought it was front. Then, last option was to run the car at 30 to 40 mph in gear on the stand and he said he's 90pc confident rear! I paid for the diagnostics. Will probably change the rear myself and take it from there, fingers crossed.