Wheel bearings or tire noise?

[DMILLA33]

Alright so a month ago I put on my Vogtland gt3 coilovers and have been taking my time getting an alignment cause I have new wheels and tires to put on and I don't car about the shitty ones on the car. Anyways.... The edges of the dws tires that are on the car now are getting extremely worn and I'm getting what sounds like a worn tire noise around 25-35 mphish and higher around 65-75 mph. I know thats also symptoms of a bad wheel bearing. I suspect a bad right rear wheel bearing because when I swerve the the right the noise goes away and when I swerve to the left the noise stays. I jacked up the car and I hear nothing but a little bit of brake drag when I spin the wheels. Could this be just cause of a worn tire or is this for sure a rear wheel bearing?

Btw, putting tires and wheels on my car saturday to test it out and getting my car aligned and corner balanced on tuesday but it would be nice to have an idea ahead of time...

Also, If this is a wheel bearing.. Should I cancel my alignment and corner balancing until the wheel bearing is replaced? Would replacing the wheel bearing replacement throw off the alignment again?

Thanks!

[S4Phantom]

If the wheel is off the ground and you are spinning it and hearing noise, its not going to be the tire in my opinion. And replacing a bearing should have nothing to do with an alignment. Only suspension stuff will affect that.

[MacFady]

With the car jacked up, grab the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock and try to move it back and forth firmly, much play? Other than testing for the noise as you described, trying to move the wheel is other way I know of to test for a bad bearing.

[DMILLA33]

With the car jacked up, grab the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock and try to move it back and forth firmly, much play? Other than testing for the noise as you described, trying to move the wheel is other way I know of to test for a bad bearing.

I have tried this and no luck! Can't feel any play!

[DMILLA33]

If the wheel is off the ground and you are spinning it and hearing noise, its not going to be the tire in my opinion. And replacing a bearing should have nothing to do with an alignment. Only suspension stuff will affect that.

Alright good! I just was unsure and did not want to mess anything up haha

[MacFady]

So personally I would think the noise has more to do with your badly worn tires than a bearing after what you said. Hopefully the reason for the uneven wearing is being addressed by your wheel alignment when you mount your new ones. Are the DWS tires worn only on the outside edge or both the outside and inside edges? One would suggest incorrect TOE, one would suggest under inflation.

[DMILLA33]

Just the outside edges! Mainly right side but left side has quite a bit of wear as well! I guess I will find out when I put them on this weekend!

[happy2B5]

Most likely tires imo. You undoubtedly have alignment issues after install of coilovers, most likely toe. Have you messed with the ride height adjustments after install? Get your new wheels / tires on and have car properly aligned.

[demonmk2]

Alright good! I just was unsure and did not want to mess anything up haha

That does not mean its not a bad wheel bearing. I had a bad one and as you described the noise changed with how the balance of the car was moved but had no play when lifted off the ground.
Also if it were tire noise it would make the noise all the time...in my experience.

But you could have a case of both,who knows.
With the age of the car and if they have never been changed it would make it more likely.

[demonmk2]

If you have access to the tools I would just replace all of them, wheels bearings
Are inexpensive.

[jamestown478]

With the car jacked up, grab the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock and try to move it back and forth firmly, much play? Other than testing for the noise as you described, trying to move the wheel is other way I know of to test for a bad bearing.

With the type of bearings used, (double row ball bearing) you often don't get play even with a worn or pitted bearing

[happy2B5]

Of course replacing old worn wear parts is good practice. Just saying eliminate the known issues first.

Suspension install √
Unevenly worn old tires √
Road noise √
Hmmmm

[DMILLA33]

I will put on new tires and get it aligned Tuesday and if I have the same issue with the noise I will replace the rear wheel bearings! Any recommendation as to which wheel bearings are best? I was looking at blauparts kit

[happy2B5]

Seems I remember mine being replaced with Febi/bilstein

[oasis]

I had what started off as what i thought was tire noise (just put on different wheels and summer tires) which got louder the more i drove (especially on the hwy).

Eventually it became a low grinding sound with a ticking noise too. I didn't find any play in the bearing until i took the axle out and could wiggle just the hub.

Sent from my GT-I9100M using Tapatalk 2

[jamestown478]

I will put on new tires and get it aligned Tuesday and if I have the same issue with the noise I will replace the rear wheel bearings! Any recommendation as to which wheel bearings are best? I was looking at blauparts kit

I am about ton install brand name F.A.G on my tt, it was what was recommended by a mechanic on the local dealership.

[S4Phantom]

I am about ton install brand name F.A.G on my tt, it was what was recommended by a mechanic on the local dealership.

F.A.G does make very good bearings.