Thud Clunk Screeecchhhhh!!!!!!

Another week, another problem

Driving home from work yesterday evening, about 1/2 mile from home. Long straightish country road, doing about 40mph. All of a sudden thud, clunk, screeeeechhhhh.

Hit the hazard warning lights, gentle apply the brakes. N/S/R locks up, even though I'm only gently braking. get out to have a look, but as I'm in a suit and it's pretty much dark I don't fancy rolling around on the floor. Nothing appears to have fallen off but I can smell a faint smell of oil buring. No sign of smoke though.

I go to move the car forward 10 metres or so to get a clearer view if any fluids are leaking, but when I try and drive the car it feels like the handbrake is still on. Move it forward a little anyway and no sign of any leaking fluids.

I call the wife out so that she can drive behind me and see if anything is dragging under the car. She cant see anything, but I can definatley feel something thunking under the car as I drive the short distance back at 10-15mph. It also feels like the rear of the car is crabbing slightly. All the tyres look ok and upon checking the pressures when home, they were what they should be, (within a couple of psi).

Once home I just got straight on with making dinner so I haven't had a chance to take a look at the car yet. I wondered if any of you chaps might like to take a guess? All the dampers, anti roll bar, prop etc all appear to be in the right place. In fact the best I could describe it is like a very, very mild version of a prop snapping.

I'm

wheel bearing ???

martinhollings said:

wheel bearing ???

Click to expand...

I was thinking that Martin, and TBH, I hope that it is. At least then it should be cheap on parts and, (fingers crossed), an easy fix.

I'm running standered size wheels / tyres, (abelt MT's), and in the 3 1/2 years that I have owned the car I haven't had any of the wheel bearing replaced. The vehicle does get used off road quite a bit too, so I can only assume that that might accelerate any wear?

Thinking about it now, I did hear an occasional faint whistling noise that was coming from somewhere on the left side of the car, but definatley not from the engine bay.

Thing is though that this whistling wasn't constant and wasn't very loud. Just faint and every so often. has only been happening over the last couple of days as well.

If conditions allow, I don't hang about on the road, (although I am always aware of how much weight there is, and how long my stopping distances are with the MT's). I would have perhaps incorrectly assumed that I would have 'felt' a wheel bearing on it's way out, but with the size and flex in the tyres on this, perhaps not.

Thanks.

sounds like wheel bearing to me anorl.

Sometimes they come loose and give a judder at speed. Other times they howl/whistle. If you are really unlucky they remain silent until it's too late. They can often weld themselves up if left until too late so don't count your chickens that it will be an easy fix just yet.

Brake shoes falling out on the rear can also have a similar feeling. I suspect that you have discs on the rear though.