Bearing or brakes whistling

[maximillion]

Hi, guys

Posted this earlier and it end up in wheels section, couldnt work out how to change it over, so apologies for repeating it.

I have spent all winter welding and rebuilding ready for an Easter camping trip and annoyingly my bus has just developed a fairly loud whistle / squeal coming from a rear wheel.

I have had the odd whistle / squeal whilst braking but last night on my way home the noise stayed after braking for a good half a mile or so and quite loudly, just got back from a spin around the block and it seams a bit more intermittent now. Going to get the drums off and check the brakes out but could this be a bearing, read about lots of bearing symptoms / noises but cant find anything similar to this.

The reason i say bearing is that the bus hasn't done many miles over the last year of two, and on the trip back from buying it the front bearing went... probably due to it drying out? I think i am now paranoid about and need to get them done at some point anyway. Anyone had a rear bearing make this sort of noise?

[kevtherev]

No not a bearing.
If the brake cylinder is seizing then it might cause it
greasing the pivots will help
Try adjusting the shoes up with the little adjuster wheel through the back plate, so they are just on then back off a turn.

check the drums are not out of spec now

[Ian Hulley]

Check the rear bearings for play side to side & top to bottom (a small amount of in and out play is quite normal) there is usually more of a scraping sound as the rotating parts are rubbing against what should be fixed parts, especially on tight corners as that side loads or unloads.

Ian.

[maximillion]

Thanks for the quick replies...

There is a tiny bit of play, but not much, because i had a front one go, i am paranoid the back might be next, brakes are an easy 'on the drive job' (not that i have had an easy job yet), but a bearing, i think is out of my league and i would need to find a local garage... and considering i hardly seen the wife and kids over last 3 months, i need it usable for next week end : )

Going to get the drums off tonight and have a look.

[Ian Hulley]

Does the noise increase or decrease if you dab the brakes ? It could be a dragging handbrake, have you tried pulling it on slightly as you're moving ?

Ian

[john1]

Any heat after a run?

I would think a good clean up in the drum may do it if not.

[maximillion]

The noise seams to be a continuation of the occasional squeal on braking, although it has randomly occurred while not braking.

No heat to mention, and i know when the front one went, there was a lot of heat.

When i first got the bus, after it had stood for a day or so, the first 3-4 time the brakes were applied it made a scrapping noise which has now cleared up - it does all start to point to a braking problem...

[waltraud]

I'd also check that al of the 'self-adjusting' ha ha gubbins is seated correctly and not rubbing, ditto any crud or bits of rust inside drum- obvious but worth a look.

[EarthWormJim]

If taking the drums off it might be adviseable to wear a mask!!! I took ours off the other day and there was a lot of dust in there which is not good if breathed in!!! I didnt expect there to be that much dust in there as the drums were only off a year ago !! I know this might be like teaching granny to suck eggs to some of us but its always good just to reminde others about a bit of common sense health and safety.

[maximillion]

Right then...

Just had the drum off and although it was an effort to remove, it was fairly clean: drum is in good condition, pads had a few shiny edges and look like they may have binded / rubbed at some point but plenty of meat and look solid. I have carefully sprayed a little grease on the cylinder ends, ruffed the shiny parts on the pads with some fine emery paper and cleaned up with a brush.

Whilst turning the hub by hand, for a short period i could hear a slight scrapping, but couldn't work out where it was coming from, didnt look like anything was catching, but then it cleared?

The hub has a little in and out play, 0.5 - 1mm? and a little 12 - 6 play but no 3 - 9. A tad more play than the good side?

Just had a spin around the block and all was we, still a little concerned about the scrapping though.

Had a quote today to change the bearings of £150 + parts - hows that sound? (if it need doing of course) - how easy would it be to re-pack the bearings at the rear?

[Ian Hulley]

Take up the bearing a hole and see if that stops it

If you do get the bearings replaced make sure YOU supply the parts ... contact Brickwerks and ask for their BEST rear wheel bearings, they are only showing the budget variety in stock at the moment. If they fit GSF's Chinese toffee bearings it'll be as bad or worse in very short time.

Ian.

[maximillion]

How does the amount of play sound?

[Ian Hulley]

I guess I'd need to feel it for myself

Ian

[icosahedron]

Years ago I had a rear wheel bearing replaced by a VW stealer. They managed to put the new grease seals in all dry and this developed into an unbelievable load squeal while driving home. I somehow managed to get a spot of oil on the seal closest to the CV joint and it has been fine ever since.

[maximillion]

Right... got to the route of the problem, and i am 'embarrassed' to say the culprit was not the back wheel at all, i had a friend leaning out of the window and listening in various parts of the bus on a test drive, and it turned out to be a seized "front" caliper... the noise was really deceiving to place... we tracked it down to the front and it was only on inspection that it turned out to be the off-side, even though it sounded like the near.

Thanks for all your advice anyway!

At the very least, i got the rear brakes inspected and all looked good!