WATCH: Wheel Bearing Diagnostics Can Be Confusing

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WATCH: Wheel Bearing Diagnostics Can Be Confusing

If a vehicle is emitting a growling noise that’s more noticeable in a specific gear range, a worn bearing in the transmission may be causing the bearing noise.

Mark Phillips
By Mark Phillips
Published:

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This video is sponsored by Schaeffler.

In our last video, we discussed diagnosing wheel bearing failure. All kinds of other things on a vehicle can make noises that appear to be coming from the wheel bearings. So, let’s cut through some of the issues that can lead to confusion in this video.

Let’s say there’s a possible wheel bearing complaint. It may not be so easy. If a vehicle is emitting a growling noise that’s more noticeable in a specific gear range, a worn bearing in the transmission may be causing the bearing noise. If the bearing noise is constant regardless of acceleration or deceleration and is approximately three times wheel speed in frequency, the faulty bearing would generally be found on the transmission output shaft or the driveshaft intermediate support bearing.

A popping or clicking noise when turning is a classic symptom of a bad outer CV joint. If the boot is torn or leaking, it should be replaced regardless of the condition of the joint. If the CV joint is noisy, get that thing out of there! it needs to be replaced.

Want to be a wheel bearing doctor? Some worn wheel bearings can often be detected by rocking the vehicle from side to side at low speeds with the steering wheel. This technique tends to increase the load on the bearings, causing the pitted bearing to become noisier than usual. This test works better when the vehicle is warm and in a parking area or roadway with light traffic where it’s absolutely safe to perform this test.

One tool that is helpful in diagnosing wheel bearings is a wired or wireless microphone/stethoscope that can be attached to a knuckle. Once an engineer-only tool, the prices for these microphone/stethoscopes have dropped dramatically.

While there are no set specifications for noise or standardized mounting points for the listening device, it can allow you to compare the bearing on each side and compare while on a test drive. These devices can also allow technicians to eliminate components that could be the source of cyclical noises like CV joints, brakes and differentials.

Well, that’s all for today. Hopefully, you’ve gained a little more insight into wheel bearing diagnostics. Keep those comments and questions coming! I’m Mark Phillips. And thanks for watching.

 

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Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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