The serach function is irritating me so here it goes.

My KF has a horrible rattle from the drivers side front wheel. I am assuming it is a bearing but I know my struts are no good and bump stops are obliterated. I am planning to fix the struts and put in new bump stops in 2 weeks but I need to drive to Port Macquarie on Tuesday (5 hours north of Syd).

Is it likely to be a bearing, and if so, is my car safe to do a 10 hour return trip? It has been going on for about 3 weeks now, getting somewhat worse. I can always hear it.

If it's the struts being dodgy, am I going to damage anything else by driving on it?

Also, if it is a bearing then how much is that going to cost me to get it fixed? Can I DIY without a press?

If the car isn't safe then needless to say, I need to pay the $$ to get it fixed, but don't want to chew into the holiday fund :( so if I can put it off for a couple of weeks then I will.

Cheers guys.

Rob

Jack up the car and see if you have any movement when you place your hands at 12 and 6 oclock and try and wobble the wheel, if no movement then bearing will not be causing this

Often the rattle or clunk can be the strut top or the damper iteself

Depends what kinda of rattle it is.

Can you explain the sound..?

SuFz :ninja:

If its over bumps or uneven ground, it could also he the swaybar links/bushes that may be flogged out.

It is over any bump of any size but then it continues on for a second or so afterwards. Over perfect ground, it does not rattle at all. I was going to check for play tonight. If its bushes, I will put it off.

Sounds more like the bushes than bearing..

SuFz

It does sound a lot like the wheel itself is rattling, granted there has been no uneven tyre wear or vibration through the car.

Need to inspect methinks. If there is play in the wheel, is that a certain bearing issue?

i had a rattle, turned out play in the brake caliper (long shot i reckon). most likely bushes/suspension. doesnt sound like bearing to me...

if your bearings are starting to go it may sound like train wheel, like a grinding type of noise. happened on a commodore i had owned

I jacked the car up to check for play in the wheel. It's solid. Makes me think bushes now, so I will inspect them over the weekend. At the end of it all, it could just be the struts. That side has a particular tendancy to bottom out over speed bumps. Thoughts? Do you think its dangerous to drive with?

is the noise speed dependant. bearings generally increase the frequency of the noise as you increase your speed. if its low at 30 but high and piercing at 100 then its likly to be a bearing or maybe a drive shaft, depending. try the old turn the wheel to full lock and listen test. mine are rattling off their head and starting to make noise even when your going strait.

but ide be tipping if its loud enough that it makes you concerned about driving it then i wouldn't push it on a 10 hour trip. even for a 10 year old car in top nick 10 hours is a long drive and those things that have been hiding in the closet may come out to play.

rear bearings on my magna went all of a sudden one day. just started growling like hell out of nowhere, took them out and the case hardening was stripped to nothing. you dont want that 4 hours away from home. it would cost more in a towing bill then sorting it out, something which you need to do anyway.