I thought it was a wheel bearing...??!!

[ernzo2]

87 Saab turbo ragtop. Making a roaring/ bearing noise front right side, passenger side here in the colonies.

I thought "wheel bearing". Mechanic said no, he jacked it up and listened, and moved things around. No dice.

So, he and I go for a test drive, the sound is there, I can feel it in the wheel, and the mechanic really cannot hear it, apparently it is not too noticeable.

So, inner driver? Pilot bearing, pinion?

Frankly, although I have not looked, it 'sounds' like something is rubbing against the front axle! Help!!

[grif900]

Originally Posted by ernzo2

apparently it is not too noticeable.

Who was driving the car on the test drive w/ the machanic?

[ernzo2]

I was, mechanic was listening.


Just drove the Saab home, about 5 miles. Noise seems to have abated inexplicably. I still think wheel bearing. What else could it be?

Not sure, is there anything spinning in the tranny when the car is in natural, clutch depressed (other than the throwout bearing /pilot bearing?)

[grif900]

Originally Posted by ernzo2

Not sure, is there anything spinning in the tranny when the car is in natural, clutch depressed (other than the throwout bearing /pilot bearing?)

Yes. Old transmissions on the way out make a fair amount of noise in neutral.

[rawill]

I have known a stone to get in between the back plate and rotor before, but surely it couldn't have been that simple.

[cdaly]

Get mechanic (or DIY) to check that the axle nuts are properly tight. I had one come loose resulting in bearing noise.

[ernzo2]

Today I am going to look for something (perhaps) stuck, and I like that idea! While sitting in the driveway, in neutral, it 'sounds' like a bearing making a repetitive noise in time with the engine turning. Coming from under the car. Now the reason I mention this is because my mechanic mentioned it to me - I had never heard it previously - But after driving home last night it was there.

I will check the axle nuts as well


So, I suspect that it is not a stone, but I am hoping!

[Jim Mesthene]

Originally Posted by ernzo2

While sitting in the driveway, in neutral, it 'sounds' like a bearing making a repetitive noise in time with the engine turning.

Squirt some kind of liquid (I use glass cleaner) on the belts. If the noise changes, you have your answer.
Also inspect belt idler pulley and lower pulley (harmonic balancer, vibration damper, crankshaft pulley).

[Tomarse]

Originally Posted by ernzo2

Not sure, is there anything spinning in the tranny when the car is in natural, clutch depressed (other than the throwout bearing /pilot bearing?)

Could be a noisy release/throwout bearing. Sometimes they loose all their grease or it goes hard and they get noisy. Generally quieten down once you are driving though, but not always.

[TooMany2cvs]

Originally Posted by ernzo2

Today I am going to look for something (perhaps) stuck, and I like that idea! While sitting in the driveway, in neutral, it 'sounds' like a bearing making a repetitive noise in time with the engine turning.

Stationary? That immediately rules out stones, brakes, driveshafts, wheel bearings, wheelnuts, anything after the gearbox.

Does it make any difference to the noise if the clutch pedal's down or up?
How about if you're moving along and put the car into neutral?

[ernzo2]

Originally Posted by TooMany2cvs

Stationary? That immediately rules out stones, brakes, driveshafts, wheel bearings, wheelnuts, anything after the gearbox.


Does it make any difference to the noise if the clutch pedal's down or up?
How about if you're moving along and put the car into neutral?

While moving, in gear or not, there is a wheel bearing like noise from the passenger side front. This is a new noise and started a couple of days ago.

The clutch pedal make no changes while moving or not, as far as I can tell.

Moving, putting the car in neutral has no effect of the wheel bearing like noise, but it slows down as the car slows down.

The thing is my mechanic could not find anything, but mentioned a bearing sound -rhythmic- from the bottom of the motor while stationary. While I drove home last night, it seemed to me that the wheel bearing noise was abated some, but now I too can hear the "frumba-frumba-frumba" (not too loud from the drivers seat but I am told it is fairly pronounced when under the car) while the car is sitting stationary in front on my house. This noise is also not effected by clutch, but gains in speed when the motor is revved.

I am guessing that the noises are related as they seemed to start up at the same time.

[TooMany2cvs]

Originally Posted by ernzo2

While moving, in gear or not, there is a wheel bearing like noise from the passenger side front. This is a new noise and started a couple of days ago.

If it's road speed dependent, and not at all engine speed related, then it probably is a wheel bearing. If there's no play in it, then it's just an annoying noise. It's only when play starts that you need to get it sorted.

The thing is my mechanic could not find anything, but mentioned a bearing sound -rhythmic- from the bottom of the motor while stationary. While I drove home last night, it seemed to me that the wheel bearing noise was abated some, but now I too can hear the "frumba-frumba-frumba" (not too loud from the drivers seat but I am told it is fairly pronounced when under the car) while the car is sitting stationary in front on my house. This noise is also not effected by clutch, but gains in speed when the motor is revved.

Hmmm. Sounds like that's possibly a different noise, then.
Experts - The infamous crank pulley?

Got aircon? Does it make a difference if that's on or off?

[ernzo2]

Hey cv, thanks for hanging in. Got AC, and tried that.

I have called around and am being told 'pinion bearing'. A $1,500 - $2,000 repair. Swell.

I am going for another test drive now.

btw. It does not pop out of gear, or any of the other pinion sounds I have searched on. The sound is also NOT a 'whine".

[ernzo2]

Well, things are still up in the air. Went for a test drive with Jerry from Mile High (Saab) here in Denver (Great shop, thanks Jerry), and Jerry KNOWS these cars! His take was that there was nothing going on. We cranked the wheel stop to stop to check for CV, we went on the highway, we gently pumped the gas to test for tranny issues. Nothing.

Now, I know I am crazy, but the noises I heard were significant. The wheel bearing like noise, with intermittent metal on metal while turning to the left seem to have abated, but something was going on.

So my take is that the right axle needs either a wheel bearing, or the CV is going out. In either case, it will get worse as time goes on, but I do not think it will develop a go-no-go situation.

As for the second noise that my mechanic mentioned, it is nothing new. Yes, the Saab is making some bearing sounds at 190,000 miles!

Now, beginning last night, it is hard to start when warm! Sheeesh, what next? Anyway, there is nothing like a Saab, a great vehicle, and for the $, a real deal. I mean, where, for a few grand can you get a Turbo - 16v DOHC - Fuel injected - electronic ignition -4 wheel disk brakes - 2 door rag top that is also slick looking?

[grif900]

Maybe it was ice or something frozen somewhere, and its gone now.