AUSTIN 1100 BEARING TROUBLE
QI
have now had to change the bearings on the front of my 1964 Austin 1100 a second time after covering under 1000 miles. The bearing starts to develop a ‘shoosh shoosh’ noise, and this then gets louder. I have also had to tighten the hub centre nut as this came loose. To ensure that this was not a problem due to wear on the driveshaft, I replaced the complete driveshaft and CV joint, but I appear to be suffering from the same problem gain. Can you offer any advice? Devin Greenaway
AI would first ensure that the problem you now have, and the noise you are hearing, are related to the hub bearing. I would also assume that the bearing kit you used included the spacer. The thing is that it can be the case that a problem appears to reoccur, only to discover upon investigation that the fault is similar in its effects, but very different in source.
The noise you have may, for example, be the result of a warped bake disc contacting the brake pad at regular intervals as the wheel turns. Certainly this would give the noise you are hearing. Jack the vehicle up and then spin the road wheel; if you can hear the offending noise, then this should be easily located by first removing the wheel and then removing the brake pads. If the noise is still present, then the bearing can be checked, but if the noise disappears with the brake pads removed, then a warped brake disc should be considered.
As you have already replaced the driveshaft, if the bearing has failed, then the hub and flange should be checked, as this is the only remaining area that may be at fault.