Front end humming

PMP

MEMBER
2014 HONDA CIVIC
1.8L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
74,000 MILES

Hello, I recently in November that passed had my front wheel bearings replaced. Now a few days ago I hear the same humming sound. I hear it between thirty and sixty mph and around fifty to fifty five mph the worst. I have new tires which I got put on in November and a good alignment and two days ago, I got the tires balanced. I am really fed up with this car already. Any suggestions?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,762 POSTS

The most common cause of repeat wheel bearing failures is improper installation procedures. Specifically, the bearing is held together with the outer CV joint and axle nut. Ne vehicle weight must ever be placed on the bearing unless the axle nut is torqued to spec. That value is very high and must be set with a click-type torque wrench. The lowest spec I have ever run into is 180 foot pounds, but some go as high as 240 foot pounds.

Some people install the wheel/tire and set the tire on the ground to keep the axle shaft from turning so they can tighten the nut, but by that time the damage has been done. An easier way is to just drop a punch into one of the cooling slots in the brake rotor.

To verify a new bearing is noisy, I prefer to raise the car on a hoist, run the engine in gear, then listen next to each one with a stethoscope. You can also raise the front tires off the ground, shift the neutral, reach over one of the tires and wrap your fingertips lightly around the coil spring, then rotate the tire by hand. If the bearing is noisy, you will feel the vibration/roughness in the spring.