View Full Version : Wheel bearing?
goldxc70
10-22-2007, 07:50 AM
Over the last few weeks, I thought I noticed a distinct drumming sound from the front passenger wheel area of my '04 XC with 84,000 km around 40mph/60kph and "disappears" when driving faster. This past weekend it seemed to be more distinct and I had some passengers on board who confirmed that it wasn't my imagination. I'll be going in for a service shortly and will have it checked but thought I'd solicit some opinions here. Wheel bearing?
Over the last few weeks, I thought I noticed a distinct drumming sound from the front passenger wheel area of my '04 XC with 84,000 km around 40mph/60kph and "disappears" when driving faster. This past weekend it seemed to be more distinct and I had some passengers on board who confirmed that it wasn't my imagination. I'll be going in for a service shortly and will have it checked but thought I'd solicit some opinions here. Wheel bearing?
Oh they (Volvo wheel bearings) do go south
Sounds like it to me
jmoser
10-22-2007, 11:00 AM
Unforgiveable but Volvo wheel bearings die young and they cost upwards of $400 per wheel to replace. I did 2 at 70K miles.
Can't wait to rid myself of my first and last POS Volvo - mechanics' consensus is that the engine still lasts forever but 70K miles is the limit for most of the rest of the car. On top of that the 2001 ETM, trans, and bevel gear are notorious high $$$ / low mileage failures.
Volvo is no longer the legendary durability leader that they once were - too bad.
John@CdnRockies
10-22-2007, 04:25 PM
We had one bearing go (covered under warranty) at about 40,000KM on our '04 - nothing since (currently at 110,000 km). Your dealer can tell in a single quick test drive. Usually the bearinigs emit a small squeal when pressure is put on one side (done by turning corners - even on the highway).
John
gibbons
10-22-2007, 04:33 PM
Ya know, I've been telling myself that nothing bad ever happens to me, and all this stuff about XC transmissions and bearings happens to someone else. Now, at 60K miles, my car has a drone in the rear end. Zig Zagging makes it more prounounced. Yup, a bearing in my humble opinion. I need to let it get a little worse so I can tell which side it's on. Is there some trick, like swerve left and the right one squeels, or anythign like that? I will replace it myself.
But at 60K? I am just not used to things like this happening. This is by far my favorite car I have ever owned, but stuff like this could strain my relationship with it.
clemstock
10-22-2007, 05:29 PM
Gibbons,
Say it ain't so. After your landmark post about transmission fluid flushing, don't give up hope yet. Just to comment on wheel bearings, thought I'd tell you what I just finished this weekend. I've got a 2002 with 114K miles on it. I wasn't getting any grinding, but I was having a Volvo specialist replace the control arms, stabilizer links, ball joints, left inner tie rod, and ALL Four Bearings. I bought all the parts online and that total came out to 1100. They guy charged me 12 hours labor @ 50/hour. So, all in all, it came out to 1700 which I think is pretty good. The car drives so much better know. I test drove a 2007 a few months ago and I dare say that it is pretty much comparable when it comes to handling now. I asked him about the bearings and he told me the old ones weren't shot, but it was probably just a matter of time. To continue, the alignment was bad and had been bad for a while so I decided to just put on 4 new BFG tires and do the alignment. It was an expensive weekend to say the least but I think I'm good. Only thing left to do is stop by the stealership and check for trans upgrades. Love the car. I anticipate not doing anything other than oil changes for a few years now. We shall see......
Note, bearings are $93 at www.autopartswarehouse.com.
How hard are they to put in?
goldxc70
10-23-2007, 11:20 AM
We had one bearing go (covered under warranty) at about 40,000KM on our '04 - nothing since (currently at 110,000 km). Your dealer can tell in a single quick test drive. Usually the bearinigs emit a small squeal when pressure is put on one side (done by turning corners - even on the highway).
John
When I read "squeal" I think of a high pitched sound. I've never heard that from a failing bearing on a car. Its always been more of a low pitched, drumming sound to me. I don't know if this is my hearing or not!
gibbons
10-23-2007, 06:42 PM
This evening I put the back seat down, layed in the cargo area, and had my son drive me around so I could listen for the noise. Definitely the rear right. To confirm, I put the car on 4 jacks in the garage, ran the speed up to 25mph, and it was a really obvious groan. I already ordered 2 hub/bearing assemblies earlier today, $116 each for the real deal Volvo part, $190 each from my local dealer.
Now I have to decide if there are any special tools I can't emulate to do it myself. Also, I have to wonder if the two existing bearings were close to the same production date, so #2 would have the same imperfections and is ready to fail, too.
Interesting observation... with a Haldex, the rear wheels were turning consistently, but not as fast as the fronts. I would guess 75% of the speed. I don't know how that works...
Rustpot
10-24-2007, 06:56 PM
Out of curiosity, how does having a bad wheel bearing negatively effect your car? Uneven wheel wear, damage the steering, etc?
Will serious implications come about if you continue to drive?
My right front is intermittently making a droning, almost scraping sort of sound, feels like that corner is just a little unstable. I'm also getting a good shimmy from the front end when taking a turn up a hill from stop (I live in a hilly town). Actually haven't heard it in a few days, but I'm only putting 10 miles on my car two to four days each week and I've been putting off a trip to the mechanic until I can get a few more paychecks in the bank.
How much time will a shop charge? An hour, 2?
I'm going to be making a 500 mile trip in a month, and I'd like to know how imperative it is that I fix this.
gibbons
10-24-2007, 07:08 PM
I could hear a bearing going bad on one of our Subarus for months. This XC one came on quick, like a week from nothing to scary. The mode of failure is usually that at a magic moment, there is a catastrophic failure of the rollers, which then lets the inner race supporting the hub go wild. Rotors hit calipers, CV shafts get bent, etc. It's ugly.
John@CdnRockies
10-25-2007, 05:38 PM
When I read "squeal" I think of a high pitched sound. I've never heard that from a failing bearing on a car. Its always been more of a low pitched, drumming sound to me. I don't know if this is my hearing or not!
A poor choice of words on my part, GoldXC. You are right, it is more like a deep rumbling (groan in your words) than a squeal.
John
cooper
10-26-2007, 10:14 AM
Newbie here. I just had the 60k service done on my '05 XC with 59k. I had started to hear some rumbling/tire noise in the rear end. Was told I need both rear bearings replaced, new tires and a right front controlling arm. Ninety-eight percent of my driving is on highway/country roads. This seems too soon to have to replace bearings, but after reading these posts maybe not? Also, have a '95 850 w/ 195k and just replaced the front bearings for the first time! The XC is our third volvo (traded an '89 240DL wagon for it w/ 300k) and we love the reliability/longevity of them. Is'nt there some way to inform Volvo of our collective dissappointment in declining reliability? Also, what do you all think about Michelin MX4s for tires? Thanks
gibbons
10-26-2007, 01:11 PM
I'm not sure they care at Volvo (Ford). They try to wriggle out of everything they can. They must think there is an infinite supply of new customers who won't find out what's been going on. That being said, this is still my favorite car ever, by far.
Michelin MXV4's.... I had some on my Infiniti. After putting them on, I accused my wife of hitting something because the car was pulling to one side. I took it in to the dealer who said the alignment was spot on. I took it back several times, effectively burning my bridges with the only dealer in the state. I took it to an alignment specialty shop twice, same thing. They said it was spot on. About 10K miles later, on the second rotation, where the tires cross sides from rear to front, it started pulling the other way. I had a bad tire. I had ruled that possibility out, thinking that Michelins were perfect. I understand that defects happen, but that one had really cost me. Plus, they were the #1 worst tire in snow tire I ever drove. Completely rediculous. What really chapped me was how expensive they were for how quick they wore out. Oh well, I got a treadwear warranty credit at the shop.
curtis
10-26-2007, 01:43 PM
Well, I haven't replaced a wheel bearing on my XC as of yet. BUt ive only owned it for a month lol I am sure the day will come. It's a shame that they go bad so frequently, based on what I am reading in this post.
My other car 94 850 T5 was purchased 3 years ago with 300kms on it and now has 463kms and I havent replaced a wheel bearing yet!!! I mean it must be due.... but it still drives good.
To bad ford had to spoil the quality of the volvo's....
I'm not sure they care at Volvo (Ford). They try to wriggle out of everything they can..
What the heck would FORD have to do with it?:confused:
This car was designed WAY before Ford ever bought Volvo
Maybe I've been just lucky, or not driving the car hard but at my last service (106k km) they found that the control arm bushings were toast and need to be replaced. At almost the same time, I'm getting the well-described wheel bearing "drone" when cornering at about 60km/h.
I have the extended warranty to 115k km so I need to have them go over the car and hit everything that might need replacing before I have to start paying.
Overall, I've had few complaints about the vehicle quality. Other than a few "teething" things when new, the only problem that has been ongoing has been door locks. Have had locks replaced 4 times (same and different locks) and there is still something not quite right -if I brake hard and fast, the interior light comes on. :rolleyes: This is especially annoying when I'm trying to decide a path through a mass of construction markers at night. :eek:
cooper
10-29-2007, 06:09 AM
Thanks for your input. After speaking to my Volvo mechanic (not the dealer) I am going to contact the dealer where I bought the car and see if they will "help out" with the cost of replacement. Foolish or wise? Wish me luck!
goldxc70
10-29-2007, 07:34 AM
A poor choice of words on my part, GoldXC. You are right, it is more like a deep rumbling (groan in your words) than a squeal.
John
No worries. Descriptions of sounds are, IMHO, often ambiguous and difficult. I find this to be a great problem with mechanics/technicians who can never hear any particular sound [happy]
gibbons
10-29-2007, 10:33 AM
What the heck would FORD have to do with it?:confused:
This car was designed WAY before Ford ever bought Volvo
I was referring to Cooper's question, "Isn't there some way to inform Volvo of our collective dissappointment in declining reliability?"
Ford has everything to do with how problems are handled, and therefore perceptions generated. Like on latent defects or any problems, they will deny there is a problem and do nothing until enough people have it to get noticed. I would guess that someone at Volvo gets a daily call from someone at Ford about warranty expenses. That's the way business works.
My dealer (not Ford, mind you) says they have never heard of transmission problems on an XC70 :) If I were looking at an XC for the first time right now, and saw this forum, I wouldn't buy one. And that would be a shame, this is by far my favorite car ever. If Volvo quietly took care of all the issues, no one would jump on here to complain and seek answers from an independent source.
cooper
11-02-2007, 07:29 AM
Well, after contacting the dealer about my bearings they are going to pay for everything! Hard to believe, but maybe they are aware of the problem. They apparently had to contact Volvo before getting the OK. Just hope it doesnt happen to the front bearings. I'm definitely going to tell them about this site and the many unhappy consumers.
goldxc70
06-12-2008, 10:18 AM
I brought my 04 in to have the bearing looked at and they decided to change the front left bearing under the extended warranty at 96,000km (60,000m). I was surprised that they only did the left one as I felt they should have done both on the basis that if one was gone through normal wear and tear, the other would not be far behind. Then I remembered that they charge me $100 for each extended warranty visit. So $100 from me and $600 from Volvo per bearing.
PS they also wanted $600 for the 96,000 km service but I'll write about this in a seperate thread.
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