Wheel bearings on GTV6 stuffed?

[Al Campbell]

Patient is a 1984 GTV6.

I was bleeding the rear brakes and noticed that when I spin the driver's side wheel by hand there was a metallic "clink" from the region of the hub. Sounds like two hard pieces of metal knocking together. There is a regular 6 "clinks" for each single rotation of the wheel . I know the CV joints are stuffed, but does that sound like a completely stuffed wheel bearing?

With all the noise when the car is moving, I can't pick up any bearing rumble.

And I believe replacing the rear bearings can be a mongrel of a job, is that the general consensus?

Thanks,
AL.

[pep105]

Hey Al was there any movement/play in the back wheels ? If there is then that a sign they could be on they're way out. It is a big job (they are bloody big bearings) and requiries a press, but wouldn't be a hard job for an Alfa specialist. A mate of mine managed to do it himself without a press  but I wouldn't recomended it. Good luck Patience is a good thing means you love her   

[Al Campbell]

Pep,

No. Damn I didn't think of that. Struth that's embarrassing. I'm getting too old for working on cars myself.

Might be time to do the whole rear end: Bushes, dampers CV's, bearings.

AL.

[Rigi]

Al,
If you can drive the car and you aren't hearing any vibration or clunking while your driving then i'd say that it wouldn't be your wheel bearing. You should be able to hear (even WITH all the noise from that amazing alfa engine) a rear bearing going. Also if it is making that much noise when spinning it slowly, then i would hope that if it had a serious problem, when going at speed it would be howling!!!

Did you try spinning the Passengers side wheel.. anything noises there??

Simple (quite possibly stupid) question i know, but are the bolts on the inside of the drive shaft that hold it onto the stub axle flange done up tight cos there are 6 or 8 of them??

P.S. Pep is right about it being a ....difficult job replacing rear bearings, hence why i'm going for all the other alternatives first!!!!

[Al Campbell]

Thanks for the help blokes.

Passengers side, no noise there. Nothing form the diff area. Definitely came from the hub. Can't hear any "uh-ho that sounds serious" noises when driving.

The fact that it is six clinks per revolution of the wheel – I checked several times, Maybe there is something's contacting the six bolts on the hub as the sounds are evenly spaced. I assumed it was the bearing and dismissed it as not fixable just now,  – but there's go to be more than six rollers in a bearing – so that can't be it.

I guess the ALFA will be going back up on the stands over Easter. I was going to paint a bedroom in the house. Shucks.

AL.

[Jekyll and Hyde]

Thanks for the help blokes.

Passengers side, no noise there. Nothing form the diff area. Definitely came from the hub. Can't hear any "uh-ho that sounds serious" noises when driving.

The fact that it is six clinks per revolution of the wheel – I checked several times, Maybe there is something's contacting the six bolts on the hub as the sounds are evenly spaced. I assumed it was the bearing and dismissed it as not fixable just now,  – but there's go to be more than six rollers in a bearing – so that can't be it.

I guess the ALFA will be going back up on the stands over Easter. I was going to paint a bedroom in the house. Shucks.

AL.

6 balls in a CV joint....  Wheel bearing doesn't usually 'clink', just rumbles.  Not a diagnosis, just an observation.