Technical 2003 Wheel bearings...

[Big Bed]

Hi, new here, recently bought a 2003 Ducato motorhome, I have read the long thread about front wheel bearings but only see mention of rumbling and grinding sounds. On 41000 miles and I get an occasional squeak from the front offside, it seems to be a rotation related noise but not consistent, sometimes its there at other times its not, applying different lock makes no difference to it appearing or not. So is a squeak a sign of bearing failure or is there something else that could be the issue?
Thanks in advance.

 

[toyogran]

Hello and welcome
Have you jacked the front offside wheel off the ground and see if you can replicate the noise by rotating the wheel?
Failing wheel bearings can some times be 'felt' when spinning the road wheel. If it feels rough or there is any sign of play or movement in the hub then it's probably on it's way out. It's some times helpful to remove the road wheel and just rotate the hub/disc and have a listen. Compare it with the nearside if that helps.
If it's only intermittent it could be brake or disc related. Check that the pads are retracting off the disc properly when your foot is off the pedal and that you aren't down to the metal pad carrier contacting the disc (ie no friction material left) and there's nothing else fouling the disc rotation.
Failing bearings can make the hubs run warmer than usual so if it is bearing related take it for a decent run and avoid heavy braking then have a feel of the hubs to see if the offside is warmer.
Since most motorhomes spend a lot of time static with 3 tons plus spread between the wheel bearings it's not surprising they pack up and long gone are the days when you could regrease or adjust individual bearings.
They're not the easiest of bearings to change if it has packed up and you're better off letting someone with a beefy press and experience of changing these bearings doing it for you unless you're feeling lucky!

 

[Big Bed]

Cheers Toyogran, trolley jack being dug out for a play, will post results when done.

 

[Big Bed]

so , jacked it up, bar under wheel, and no play whatsoever. Rotating wheel and all I can hear is the gentle swish of the disc against the pads. No graunching or grinding noises whatsoever.
Decided to remove wheel and found all the bolts were only just hand tight, I am used to standing on the bar to crack them off but no one of them need more than a slight pressure to undo them. Could it simply be incorrectly tightened bolts causing an occasional squeak? Went on a run and no noises, hubs felt same heat wise after stopping.
We will see, I will check bolts again in after a few more runs.
Things are not usually this simple with stuff I have owned so not counting my chickens yet.
Cheers

 

[varesecrazy]

Check all the others..

no guarantee that they haven't all 4 been off for the winter,
and thrown back on before purchase..,

Charlie - Oxford

 

[rolopolo]

I would strip the brakes, just done mine on Monday, and claimed sliders were seized (only changed them a year ago) (but I do cover 110000 miles a year) cleaned them all out, tip... Use a drill with a long screwdriver attachment or similar and poke in slider tube holes in calliper, some wire wool, the drill will spin the wool and clean out the holes, clean or replace slider tubes and refit with silicon grease, new pads if worn, I use Peugeot genuine (£83 compared to fiats £170 ish) plus they gave good discount
Good all round clean and copperslip to the pad backs and the spring clips

No more wheel bearing like squeal when driving along
That's all on a 2012 Ducato 3.0 maxi

 

[corcai]

If the discs are lipped that can give you an annoying squeal too a 4 inch grinder is good for taking off the outer lip or a file if you don't have one.

 

[Big Bed]

Just an update (pet hate is seeing unresolved threads), just done approx 300 miles around Norfolk, only squeaked once, and the slightest touch on the brakes stopped it, release the brakes and it returned, it carried on for a few miles and eventually disappeared again. I have decided to live with it, until, or if, the squeak changes to something more sinister.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[lm04]

Caliper pin seizing. Do as already suggested and give them a good clean up. When you release the brake, one slider of the two catches so the pad is slightly touching causing the squeal.