adrial

I just took the car out for a quick spin and I still have the grinding noise, increases with speed, its not constant, sounds like a wheel bearing I think...

Is there anything besides the trailing arm that I will damage by driving the car 120 miles there and back? (thats total distance=120 miles) Will the car make it for the 120 miles trip?? I imagine it will...

For those that didn't read the last thread, back end smacked the curb when spun on highway in the rain, brunt of the blow was to the bottom of the wheel because of the concrete divider design.

Speedy response would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,
Adrial

Luis de Prat

Adrial, I'm quite positive the sound you're getting is from the wheel bearings. I've smacked the rear wheel of my '83 into curbs a lot less strongly than you did and have had the bearings start making noise shortly after.

I'm not saying this is the extent of the possible structural damage to your car from the blow, but it sounds like the most eminent. Other than the cast alloy trailing arm being affected from the scored bearings heating up, you should be OK as long as you take it easy. The car is definitely out of alignment.

Best of luck and I'm really sorry this happened. Now I know why I paid $1K last Xmas. for a set of Michelin Pilots <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

adrial

Thanks for the quick response Luis. I dont imagine heating up the trailing arm is a big worry, I would imagine its toast (bent) anyway.

Yes, new tires are a beautiful thing in the rain...

I've learned my lesson....I bet when I'm old and I have kids, if cars still drive on tires that wear, they're gonna bug me that their tires dont need replacing...that they're fine...and then they're gonna hear a story!

Peckster

I wouldn't drive it that far with a bad bearing. I'm not sure what you could damage, but I know it's not a good idea from a safety perspective.

Spend the bucks and get it towed.

Tom R.

carry your AAA gold card. they tow up to 100 miles.

stop in at a local shop on your way to the recommended shop. maybe they will have an answer.

User 41221

I drove about 1.5-2k miles on a worn out rear wheel bearing... I am certainly not advocating that anyone else do it, but it held up better than you might imagine. Mine did not "grind" tho, that sounds a bit more serious.

Regards, ...Scott

adrial

Well, the car made it there and back and the noise didn't get any worse.

It's not audible with the windows halfway down @ 50mph, so I imagine its not TOO bad.

Luis de Prat

FWIW, I once drove my '83 from Boston, MA to Louisville, KY with a rear inner bearing that would periodically make a screeching sound.

While in Boston, I took the car to a shop to have it looked at and they couldn't reproduce the sound. At any rate, when I arrived in Louisville, my mechanic raised the rear of the car to checked the wheel and it was quite loose on the hub.

However, upon close inspection he found that the hub had not been damaged from the 700+ miles. We replaced the bearings and the wheel was tight again and the screeching sound stopped.

RajDatta

Adrial, have you asked him if he can get you towed? I mean whats maybe $100 or so. This way atleast you can be sure its okay.
I would not push my luck, but thats my opinion. I used to push it a lot when younger <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
Raj

Graufuchs

I drove a good 2-4k on a bad wheel bearing...(it was cracked and scored and still never siezed even after 350 straight miles ata time..scary huh?