P38A P38 Wheel bearing failure?

JamesBB · Jul 16, 2023

Hi All

Long time no login. Things have changed.......

Anyway. I suspect a front wheel bearing has failed on my 1996 P38 4.6 HSE.
It's been running really great for ages, just as I said that something needs attention.
On a drive yesterday evening and on the way home there was suddenly a worn/failed wheel bearing type noise coming from the front. I have had wheel bearings fail on other cars and they have gradually failed. This seemed to go from quiet to noisy, then louder, in the space of 20 minutes.
Seems slightly worse turning the steering a little to the right.
Does this sound like a typical P38 wheel bearing failure? That quickly?
Could it be something else? CV?
I guess the wheels need to come off and rock the hubs.
Do you need to do both sides at the same time?
Cheers in advance.

Datatek · Jul 17, 2023

JamesBB said:
Hi All

Long time no login. Things have changed.......

Anyway. I suspect a front wheel bearing has failed on my 1996 P38 4.6 HSE.
It's been running really great for ages, just as I said that something needs attention.
On a drive yesterday evening and on the way home there was suddenly a worn/failed wheel bearing type noise coming from the front. I have had wheel bearings fail on other cars and they have gradually failed. This seemed to go from quiet to noisy, then louder, in the space of 20 minutes.
Seems slightly worse turning the steering a little to the right.
Does this sound like a typical P38 wheel bearing failure? That quickly?
Could it be something else? CV?
I guess the wheels need to come off and rock the hubs.
Do you need to do both sides at the same time?
Cheers in advance.

Could just be a stone between the disc and the backplate, could even be the backplate has rusted away and is rubbing on the disc.
As you rightly say, wheel bearings usually get noisy gradually.

JamesBB · Jul 17, 2023

Hi
Quick update.
Lifted near-side front and the wheel wobbles badly on the hub. I reckon the bearing is totally shot.
Off-side front is fine, with no movement.

I take it all is well to replace the bearings or hub on the faulty side only?
Just need to work out is it more cost-effective to replace the hub with the bearings included or just buy new bearings and ask somebody with a suitable press to swap them out.... What are your thoughts?

Thanks

Datatek · Jul 17, 2023

JamesBB said:
Hi
Quick update.
Lifted near-side front and the wheel wobbles badly on the hub. I reckon the bearing is totally shot.
Off-side front is fine, with no movement.

I take it all is well to replace the bearings or hub on the faulty side only?
Just need to work out is it more cost-effective to replace the hub with the bearings included or just buy new bearings and ask somebody with a suitable press to swap them out.... What are your thoughts?

Thanks

IMO it's fine to just replace the side with the failed bearing. Pressing the old bearing out of the hub requires a 20 ton press and even then I have read that they can be hard to get out. Many people just get a replacement hub complete.
I cut the old bearing out on my Transit. Freezing the new bearing for 24 hours and heating the hub with an electric heat gun made the new bearing go in easily.

JamesBB · Jul 17, 2023

OK thanks. I thought as much.
Time to think. Will it survive the journey to my favourite 4x4 mechanic who has the kit to do this, or maybe buy a new hub, easier and quicker and I can do it at home..... Unless I take the hub off and take it to him with a new bearing. I will see wht he suggests.
Cheers

Datatek · Jul 17, 2023

JamesBB said:
OK thanks. I thought as much.
Time to think. Will it survive the journey to my favourite 4x4 mechanic who has the kit to do this, or maybe buy a new hub, easier and quicker and I can do it at home..... Unless I take the hub off and take it to him with a new bearing. I will see wht he suggests.
Cheers

Be careful where you buy a new bearing if you go down that route, there are a lot of poor quality bearings around.

JamesBB · Jul 18, 2023

Looking for a second-hand hub at the mo. Will put that on for now and order a Timken or something to put into the original at a later date. Do not seem to be any second-hand ones out there on the usual sites. Do if anybody in the south/southwest has one spare, please let me know.

Grrrrrr · Jul 19, 2023

JamesBB said:
Hi
Quick update.
Lifted near-side front and the wheel wobbles badly on the hub. I reckon the bearing is totally shot.
Off-side front is fine, with no movement.

I take it all is well to replace the bearings or hub on the faulty side only?
Just need to work out is it more cost-effective to replace the hub with the bearings included or just buy new bearings and ask somebody with a suitable press to swap them out.... What are your thoughts?

Thanks

MrGorsky got a replacement hub with a Timken bearing from a place in Birmingham. The thread will be on here somewhere.

MrGorsky · Nov 21, 2023

Here. It was from here.

Land Rover Range Rover 1994-2001 Parts, Spares & Accessories | Heritage Parts Centre UK

Shop Top Quality and OE Range Rover 1994-2001 Parts. 10,000+ parts in stock– Gearbox & Axle, Suspension, Engine & more. Fast & Free Delivery, 365 Day Returns.

www.shop4autoparts.net

Shop 4 Autoparts were very helpful. I bought two front hubs, 2 CV joints, seals, staked nuts, and all sorts. Good price and excellent quality parts.

I think my rear (original LR from 159k miles ago) ones are getting noisy, so I’m going back for more.

P38A P38 Wheel bearing failure?

JamesBB

Active Member

Datatek

Well-Known Member

JamesBB

Active Member

Datatek

Well-Known Member

JamesBB

Active Member

Datatek

Well-Known Member

JamesBB

Active Member

Grrrrrr

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

MrGorsky

Well-Known Member

Land Rover Range Rover 1994-2001 Parts, Spares & Accessories | Heritage Parts Centre UK

Similar threads