A rumble in my ride

[Josh]

Use brackets, not parenthesis.

[shavenyak]

Ok, so back on topic - so you reckon if it shuts up when turning left, then its the left bearing? I did think that the sound was coming more from the left side, so that reinforces that idea.
So what's involved in changing the bearing? Do I have to take the whole rotor and calipers off?

Do you know if there is a F8B specific manual circulating around? The one on here is for the 550cc, and so it doesn't cover the disc brake model..

Cheers mate!

[Josh]

Yeah, I reckon it could well be the left, as when you turn left it's your front right wheel that takes up the bulk of the load. You may also notice when cornering to the right at high speed the rumble becomes worse or more violent.

Unfortunately the bearing replacement is a workshop job, so ring a mechanic you trust for a full quote or grab the parts yourself and take them to your mechanic.

There is a Hatch workshop manual that details the F8B engine.

[mowog]

Personally i think it is far more likely to be a rear wheel bearing. I would do them first, lot cheaper and you can do them yourself in a couple of hours easy.

[Josh]

Yeah? Have you experienced a higher frequency of failure in the rear?

My front pair died looong ahead of the rear with the exact symptoms Shavenyak is reporting, at which point I had the whole lot replaced, but not before doing another 20,000km on them first...

[shavenyak]

yeah, I've got a road trip planned, so I might wait until after easter to do it
I think she'll hold out. I hope she'll hold out...

I've been reading a bit about bearing changes, and it does seem a bit of a mission to do at home, like you said its proabably a workshop job. But is it much harder than an outer cv joint change? Coz we did that at home (after several long hours).

[Josh]

As I understand it's a workshop job because you need a hydraulic press for some part of the process but I don't recall what - Brayden, Colin?

[Brayden]

For the front you need a workshop to press the bearings in/out. My local mechanic had to make up a special jig for his press to do the job.

[shavenyak]

Thanks again for the help guys - I found a bearing kit for $35 NZ, and a mechanic who will do it for $80 NZ..

Josh: You said that there was an F8B Manual available, did you mean online - or just in general

cheers,
Oskar.

[Josh]

I meant in general, as in "Yes, there is a Hatch manual available".

Ask Brayden about an online source.

[shavenyak]

So, just got the car back from the shop.. $250 NZ later
But the real surprise was that the noise was coming from the front RIGHT bearing! .. So, go figure, really! Could have sworn the sound was coming from the left side. I also got the rear right bearing replaced as there was quite a bit of play in it - but that was more of an occasional clunking than the grating rumblings from the front.
Oh well, glad that its over and I've got a very nice quiet ride now - what a huge difference! On my way down the country for a wee road trip so we'll see how the little red lady handles it. On my way back up I'm gonna be picking up a carbie from a fiat 850 - my project for the next few months i think.

There's a really good weber specialist guy here in auckland who I spoke to, and we got talking about getting a weber to suit the f8b. He offered me a completely reconditioned weber off some sort of air cooled flat-4 citroen - he couldnt remember what kind, I suggested 2CV but he said that wasn't it.. Any Ideas? He wanted $250 for it which is probably a good deal.. But I'm gonna go with the cheaper fiat one ($30) and work on restoring that..

Thanks for your input guys!

[mowog]

Josh I have replaced one rear wheel bearing in my MB and one in the daughter's 93 Swift, while had no problems with the front ones. So my experience is that yes the rears are more vulnerable.