not a RAM but a bearing is a bearing

[dhay13]

So after seeing another thread asking about a wheel bearing I figured 'd ask here. Wife has a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek (AWD) that we bought new. Now has 75,000 miles on it. All original except tires, battery, brakes and a few light bulbs. Pads and rotors have about 15,000 on them now but about 6 months ago started noticing a high pitched squeal like brakes. Seems to only start after about a 10 mile drive then doesn't stop. So my interpretation is it is heat related? With the wheel straight it makes noise and gets slightly worse the further left you turn the wheel. Turn the wheel right and it goes away. I pulled the brakes apart a few months ago and checked everything, cleaned everything with brake cleaner but no luck. Over the weekend I jacked it up and tried 'wobbling' all 4 wheels. The left front seems to make a very slight noise and a slight noise when rotating the wheel also. The other 3 are normal. Wheel bearing? I would think there would be more play, at least enough to be noticeable after this long?
My next thought was to pull the pads/caliper off that wheel and see if the noise is still there when spinning the wheel (on jackstands of course, not driving....lol)

thoughts or experiences?

 

[danielmid]

Seems like you're on the right track. Steering wheel noise change is typically bearing related. I'd still do the brake off spin check you're talking about just to see, but if the noise is only after a decent drive that might not tell you what you need to know. But taking the brakes apart might also show you a rub spot you haven't seen yet.

 

[Jim BB]

So after seeing another thread asking about a wheel bearing I figured 'd ask here. Wife has a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek (AWD) that we bought new. Now has 75,000 miles on it. All original except tires, battery, brakes and a few light bulbs. Pads and rotors have about 15,000 on them now but about 6 months ago started noticing a high pitched squeal like brakes. Seems to only start after about a 10 mile drive then doesn't stop. So my interpretation is it is heat related? With the wheel straight it makes noise and gets slightly worse the further left you turn the wheel. Turn the wheel right and it goes away. I pulled the brakes apart a few months ago and checked everything, cleaned everything with brake cleaner but no luck. Over the weekend I jacked it up and tried 'wobbling' all 4 wheels. The left front seems to make a very slight noise and a slight noise when rotating the wheel also. The other 3 are normal. Wheel bearing? I would think there would be more play, at least enough to be noticeable after this long?
My next thought was to pull the pads/caliper off that wheel and see if the noise is still there when spinning the wheel (on jackstands of course, not driving....lol)

thoughts or experiences?

as a tech been my experience by what you are saying it is a wheel bearing ! Do your self a favor and think about this if one wheel bearing is worn 75,000 Mi on it then the other side is probably not to far behind it ! lol so i would change both with really good bearings if it was mine ! only because like i said both have the same amount of wear and also it is on stands already , I am dirty and have all the tools out already and in fix it mode lol good luck

 

[kirk35]

I had a similar experience with my '11 2500. I tried checking the wheels for any slack and didn't really notice anything. I then pulled the wheels off to check the brakes and turned the hubs by hand. Without the extra leverage/weight of the wheel it was obvious that the PS wheel bearing was shot.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Whichever way you turn the wheel when the weight is shifted to the the outside of the wheel you're going to get noise on that bearing, going Streight it should lessen the noise, let me guess it's the p/s wheel bearing because there are more left hand turns in everyday driving.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

as a tech been my experience by what you are saying it is a wheel bearing ! Do your self a favor and think about this if one wheel bearing is worn 75,000 Mi on it then the other side is probably not to far behind it ! lol so i would change both with really good bearings if it was mine ! only because like i said both have the same amount of wear and also it is on stands already , I am dirty and have all the tools out already and in fix it mode lol good luck

What ^^ said!!!
I just had this exact scenario last week!
I had a slight whine/noise on my front left corner. Put it up in the air and put the stethoscope to it, and it was the beginning stages of wheel bearing failure. Albeit early, but I don't mess around with things like this.
I had both front wheel bearings replaced with SKF bearings. I then had a proper brake service done too. Good as gold now!

 

[dhay13]

Whichever way you turn the wheel when the weight is shifted to the the outside of the wheel you're going to get noise on that bearing, going Streight it should lessen the noise, let me guess it's the p/s wheel bearing because there are more left hand turns in everyday driving.

Nope. driver side. Noise gets worse with wheel turned left.

I have a handheld temp gun and tried checking temps when we got home once and didn't notice any temp differences