Rubbing the Strut (What Else Can It Be?)

[TheLazyDog]

I am using the wrong size tires. But I will not replace these tires until they are used to their potential.


The following problem has recently presented itself. I did not have noticeable rubbing until 2 days ago. Nothing in particular happened. I just started hearing an irregular sound.

I am getting a howling/screaming/wailing noise from the passenger-side fore wheel at speeds above 10 mph. *I credit it to the tire rubbing the strut. Below 10 mph there is no howling but a sound of rubbing is still noticeable. The sound does not change with steering or braking. Tire air pressure is correct.

***
Foremost passenger strut and tire.


Foremost driver's strut and tire.

**To resolve this I plan to buy and install these. I will also use longer wheel lugs.

• * Is this the correct diagnosis?
  
  ** Is this an acceptable solution?
  
  *** Is this tire still safe to be driven on?

Any thoughts, concerns, or comments are welcome. Thanks for looking.

[Frybrid 524td]

**The correct solution would be to use properly sized tires. What size are you currently using?

[TheLazyDog]

**The correct solution would be to use properly sized tires. What size are you currently using?

I understand. But I expressed that I will not be changing the tires. I am using 225/55R16.

[Jeremy]

**The correct solution would be to use properly sized tires. What size are you currently using?

I am also curious about the tire and wheel specs being used where this is happening.

I'd be highly tempted to take a large hammer to the strut housing and dent it slightly in that spot, but that's not at all professional and those spring cups don't look to be in the best of shape to begin with.

[pleasefixitup]

hmmmm

read this thread

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=11 ... g&start=25

you could get spacers and longer lugs--but that's more money...

[TheLazyDog]

**The correct solution would be to use properly sized tires. What size are you currently using?

I am also curious about the tire and wheel specs being used where this is happening.

The wheels are V2 Style 5s... 8x16 ET23
The tires are Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500s... 225/55R16

I would not have bought those tires if I knew then what I know now. You may recall this thread. Oy.

I'd be highly tempted to take a large hammer to the strut housing and dent it slightly in that spot, but that's not at all professional and those spring cups don't look to be in the best of shape to begin with.

I'm curious as to if someone else has anything to say about this. I may do it. These struts are ugly and I'll eventually buy a solid pair and blast and powder coat those.

[Mike W.]

**To resolve this I plan to buy and install these. I will also use longer wheel lugs.


* Is this the correct diagnosis?

IMO, yes.

edit: ** Is this an acceptable solution?

Yes, but... 7.5MM is longer than you need for a spacer and those are expensive. I would search for less expensive alternatives, probably a 5MM spacer (I'm not sure if they make thinner than 5, 3MM would work for you) with the appropriate lugs.

*** Is this tire still safe to be driven on?

From what I see in the picture, yes.

I would also be tempted to use Jeremy's technique, but I can be a cheap SOB.

[demetk]

3mm spacers about $26.

My 225/50/16 fit just fine without spacers on the e28. Use washers/studs to determine the spacer you need.

[lilpoindexter]

I had E38 style 5s on my car when I first got it. I never thought they looked right, and if i didn't keep the front tires inflated on a daily basis they rubbed the struts. I got E34 15" wheels and tires, and BAM problem solved. I think they look "right" as well, too.

[Kyle in NO]

If this started two days ago, either your strut housing is bent or your hub bearing has failed.

[TheLazyDog]

If this started two days ago, either your strut housing is bent or your hub bearing has failed.

Thanks for bringing that up. Obviously this shouldn't have suddenly come up. I'm going to check the bearing.

[ldsbeaker]

If this started two days ago, either your strut housing is bent or your hub bearing has failed.

Thanks for bringing that up. Obviously this shouldn't have suddenly come up. I'm going to check the bearing.

I agree on the hub bearing front.
... and it DID suddenly come up for me...

One day, no noise, the next day noise; and it kept getting louder. I drove for about 3 weeks like that, then couldn't stand it any more. I didn't want to hurt the spindle since it's attached to the strut with the coilover setup. Don't exactly feel like trying to duplicate that right this moment.

[tsmall07]

If this started two days ago, either your strut housing is bent or your hub bearing has failed.

Agreed. Tires don't "all of the sudden" start rubbing unless something else is wrong.

Also, I don't understand why you didn't just swap the tires for the right size. Now you were going to blow a bunch of money on spacers and lug bolts for no gain whatsoever.

[Frybrid 524td]

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=109459

[TheLazyDog]

I installed the spare wheel on the strut in question. It definitely doesn't rub. But the noise is still prominent. I recorded a video, the noise can be heard within. If anyone would watch it and confirm or deny that the sound is a failed wheel bearing, I would really appreciate it.

Note the noise does not change with variation of thrust load. At least not with the small amount I did vary it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLSUEyJTkb4

Best times to listen:
2:10 for about 30 seconds
4:15 for about a minute

[demetk]

That's a pretty shot bearing if it sounds like that. To be sure the best way to check is to pull the brakes off and the disk rotor and do a safecracker spin of the hub with your fingers. Any roughness and the bearing is shot.

[TheLazyDog]

Thanks, Demet.

[tsmall07]

Even easier is to just jack up the wheel in question and move it up & down, side to side, and diagonally. If it moves in all three directions, bad wheel bearing. If it just moves up and down, you have bad ball joints. If it just moves side to side, you have bad tie rod ends.

More than likely the noise is from a bad bearing.

[TheLazyDog]

Even easier is to just jake up the wheel in question and move it up & down, side to side, and diagonally. If it moves in all three directions, bad wheel bearing. If it just moves up and down, you have bad ball joints. If it just moves side to side, you have bad tie rod ends.

More than likely the noise is from a bad bearing.

Thanks. That was the first thing I did, and it did indicate a bad bearing. 'Was interested at a second opinion on the noise at that point.

[mooseheadm5]

That was the first thing I did, and it did indicate a bad bearing.

So why are you wasting time? Replace it.

[TheLazyDog]

So why are you wasting time?

I have nothing but time. I wanted a second opinion on the noise.

[mooseheadm5]

It isn't just your time you are wasting.

[TheLazyDog]

If you don't want to, I would seriously appreciate it if you would not waste your time on my threads.

All the best, mates.

[Frybrid 524td]

[mooseheadm5]

Almost a month ago, Kyle tells you that you probably have a bad bearing. Two others agree. Apparently you check it, discovers for sure it is a bad bearing, but still wants to know why it is making noise even though you haven't changed it. How many second opinions do you need before you change it? Does someone need to go verify it in person for you or do you just want to keep making videos of it and asking why it is noisy till it spins the race and destroys the spindle?

[pleasefixitup]

Almost a month ago, Kyle tells you that you probably have a bad bearing. Two others agree. Apparently you check it, discovers for sure it is a bad bearing, but still wants to know why it is making noise even though you haven't changed it. How many second opinions do you need before you change it? Does someone need to go verify it in person for you or do you just want to keep making videos of it and asking why it is noisy till it spins the race and destroys the spindle?

Maybe the bulb for "wheel bearings" went bad on his check panel

[Brad D.]

Maybe when the wheel and hub fly off on the freeway he will do something about it.

[TheLazyDog]

I'm not driving this car. I haven't been. Except for when I made the one video.

[Blue Shadow]

You waiting for the part to go down in price or for a friend to have one laying around and the skills to install it?

[CharleyDog]

I knew from the title of this thread that it was going to be bad, and get worse.