HELP PLEASE.....

Hi All,

I have a bit of a strange one on my 300tdi D1. When I first drive of in the morning, within about a mile the front right wheel will make a gringing noise (something that is turning with the wheel), the steering will pull to one side slowing the car down a little and then whatever it is will re-seat itself and it wont do it again on that journey driving perfectly normal, any ideas what this could be..... wheel bearing race collapsed and then settling down?? I have noticed that its wanting to pull to the right more and more now.

Jack the front up and wobble the wheel about and if it's that bad I wouldnt drive it!!

Yeh I have a garage booked for the day tuesday but wanted kind of diagnose beforehand. I will be doing bearings anyway but just wondered what else it might be?
Dont worry, i dont dare lol.

The bit about it fixing itself is a bit odd.. It does sound like a hub bearing giving up, but have you had a look underneath yet? It's not unknown for the axle casing brackets to rot to the extent that it doesn't, umm, stay where it should do, although the rear suffers more.
Does the brake pedal go to the floor after it's done its nasty nasty grindy thing?

It is pretty weird isn't it! I haven't had a proper look yet no. The brakes all work well and brakes in a straight line when the pedal is stamped on as well.

I only ask about the brakes because when the hub bearing gets really bad, the disc moves around so much, it pushes the pads and caliper pistons in so next time your press the brake pedal, you get a lot of travel before anything happens.

Right OK. They do seem ok the brakes but maybe I have got used to them being so bad lol

Have you been driving over gravel?
My Mazda occasionally sounds like a wheel is about to fall off, screeching/grinding, its actually just a small stone thats been trapped between the back plate and the brake disc!

PS Call me cynical, but a garage will probably find something that needs "fixing"!

No its definately not that because whatever it is is forcing the steering wheel to turn as well and feel mechanical
Yes they sure will that's why I do all the work myself

Yes sounds like something more substantial!
Brake pad worn/binding?

It does indeed. I have recently replaced both pads and disks on the front so they're all ok. I and just hoping its a bearing that's gone bad then reseats itself. I'm working on it tomorrow and replacing both front wheel bearings so fingers crossed its only that! Otherwise its gonna be a strip down job which I dont want to do lol

Delwyn said:

I'm working on it tomorrow and replacing both front wheel bearings so fingers crossed its only that! Otherwise its gonna be a strip down job which I dont want to do lol

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And what did you find.............?