Driver Side Wheel Bearing Noise Diagnosis

a3inverter · Post by **a3inverter** » 18 Apr 2021, 17:35

Greetings all. Hopped in the V70 (2006 V70 - 165k) this morning for the first time in maybe 4 days and immediately noticed a new noise coming from the driver's side front corner. Sounds and feels like a wheel bearing noise, but that's also where the transmission lives.

I checked the tranny fluid hot and it was a bit above the mark, but nicely red. I've been doing drain and fills since I got the car at 135k miles and have settled down to a once per 10k tranny fluid change.

Thoughts on how I might diagnose a wheel bearing vs a tranny problem? Neither has given me any trouble prior to now. The rumble is definitely related to wheel speed, but I know that doesn't rule out the tranny.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Post by **SuperHerman** » 18 Apr 2021, 18:17

Other than lifting wheel and moving it and feeling/listening one can test by driving.

Go straight at speed when it is making noise on highway - turn wheel to change lanes and listen for noise disappear. Basically a slight veer. Do same going to the other side (lane). The noise should be disappear turning opposite the offending side.

You can also put tranny in N while it is making the noise - if it disappears more likely transmission.

a3inverter · Post by **a3inverter** » 18 Apr 2021, 19:31

Tried the Neutral test and the noise persists

Post by **jonesg** » 19 Apr 2021, 09:21

The only sure way I found to check a bearing was remove and check it in my hands.
It can feel different with no axle bolted through it.

a3inverter · Post by **a3inverter** » 19 Apr 2021, 11:24

Great suggestions...Thanks folks!

a3inverter · Post by **a3inverter** » 01 May 2021, 11:25

Had the opportunity to tackle the left front wheel bearing today and before I got too far I noticed flung grease from the driver's side inner CV

Took me some time, but finally found a tiny 3/16" long hole in the boot that's been squirting the grease around.

Is it possible that the inner CV could be causing all the noise? Just looking at the original owner's records it seems the right wheel hub and right CV axle were changed 40k ago, but never the left hub or CV axle.

I suppose it's time! (2006 V70 - 165k)

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Post by **oragex** » 01 May 2021, 14:49

Can't tell but I would doubt. That doesn't appear to be much grease spilled. As others said, if you look at the bearing, be sure to test by hand before removing the securing bolts. The bearing will be completely stuck inside the wheel hub, a slide hammer is almost surely needed to remove it

a3inverter · Post by **a3inverter** » 08 May 2021, 15:42

Team MVS - wanted to close the loop on this one.

The only snafus I ran into were trying to get the CV out. I had to take the knuckle off the strut - something I hadn't wanted to do because of the potential need to have a realignment done. Marked the relationship of the knuckle to the strut well enough that I got it almost dead on when I put it all together.

Getting the old axle out of the transmission was a bit of a chore. Ultimately I succeeded by using a 3" wide cold chisel and working that around the axle.

When putting it all back together I chose the ratchet strap approach to pulling the control arm down vs the brute force approach I used last year. Worked quite well. Took about 4 hours for the axle and the wheel bearing hub.

Pretty sure it was the wheel bearing that was making all the noise...turning it by hand it felt crunchy and notchy. Went for a test drive after and heard a little bit of brake shield rub noise, but that's easy to remedy.

One last thing...how does one tell an original Volvo axle from a cheap replacement? I quickly looked for markings but didn't see any obvious Volvo logos.

Thanks!

Post by **jonesg** » 08 May 2021, 16:49

axle popper helps with stuck axles. $30

https://www.amazon.com/ABN-Axle-Popper- ... 3685352137

Post by **Blacklab467** » 09 May 2021, 04:19

The Volvo axles will say GKN Loebro somewhere on it, I think also on the boots if they're original. Also the driver's side most often has a rubber damper about halfway down the axle. Taking the knuckle off the strut is the best method, you can measure the camber afterwards with a carpenter's level to tweak the alignment once done.