TheSamba.com :: View topic - Can a bad wheel bearing cause the car to pull to one side?

Mon Apr 25, 2016 6:40 pm

Asking for a friend of mine test driving a 70 bug for sale. Said it drove great but pulled to the right even though current owner shows suspension work and an alignment was just done. Said it definitely had a bad wheel bearing on right front and was wondering if this could be the cause.
Internet is split 50/50 on this, so it would help to prove your stance. :D

Mon Apr 25, 2016 6:47 pm

On RWD cars, a bad front wheel bearing will cause the car to pull slightly. I would start by replacing that bearing, and see if it fixes your issue.

Mon Apr 25, 2016 6:58 pm

Perhaps the left front tire has 32 psi and the right front has 4 psi? :?

Mon Apr 25, 2016 6:58 pm

iowegian wrote: Perhaps the left front tire has 32 psi and the right front has 4 psi? :?

So, is that a "yes a bad wheel bearing can cause a pull" or "no a bad wheel bearing cannot cause a pull"?

Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:07 pm

sb001 wrote: iowegian wrote: Perhaps the left front tire has 32 psi and the right front has 4 psi? :?

So, is that a "yes a bad wheel bearing can cause a pull" or "no a bad wheel bearing cannot cause a pull"?
Sarcasm. Sorry.
I believe that in order to cause a distinct pull, a wheel bearing would have to be so tight that it would be squealing like a stuck pig and the tire would be just skidding along or the spindle would snap off after a few miles.
I suspect a brake dragging.

Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:13 pm

A collapsed rubber brake line would cause a car to pull to one side.

Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:15 pm

johneliot wrote: A collapsed rubber brake line would cause a car to pull to one side.

How about a bad wheel bearing?

Mon Apr 25, 2016 8:57 pm

I go along with IO and say no. However, there is an easy test to find out. Take the car for another test drive. Stop and touch the left brake drum, then touch the right. If he loses skin on the right drum, its the wheel bearing. If both drums are equally warm-hot, its not.

Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:32 pm

If a bearing doesn't spin freely and creates drag, then yes it could. It might be more noticable a low speeds rather than high speeds. Whether it's a bearing or a brake issue, either one is an easy fix and not too expensive. Is it a deal killer for your friend?

Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:38 pm

a bad bearing can cause a pull..BUT as stated above it would have to be so obvious that this question is a no brainer.

As stated above...a bad brake hose can cause a pull/drift when not applying brakes.

A shifted belt or a severe radial pull can be the cause as well...which is an easy diagnosis...swap front tires side to side and redrive

Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:17 am

Multi69s wrote: I go along with IO and say no. However, there is an easy test to find out. Take the car for another test drive. Stop and touch the left brake drum, then touch the right. If he loses skin on the right drum, its the wheel bearing. If both drums are equally warm-hot, its not.
However, a dragging brake will also heat up a drum in a hurry.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:18 am

air-h2o-air wrote: a bad bearing can cause a pull..BUT as stated above it would have to be so obvious that this question is a no brainer.

As stated above...a bad brake hose can cause a pull/drift when not applying brakes.

A shifted belt or a severe radial pull can be the cause as well...which is an easy diagnosis...swap front tires side to side and redrive

This^^

A SIMPLE test is to jack the front end in the air. Spin both front wheels. Do they both spin easily? A bad bearing will rumble and you can feel the roughness on the bumper as you spin the tire.

If both tires spin ok w/out a bad bearing feeling/noise, swap front tires side to side. Does it pull the other way? Does it now go straight?

The only other issue that would cause a pull if it's not brake related or tire related is a bent beam that' causing a BIG spread in caster between the LF or RF. A big caster difference will cause a pull.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 7:02 am

Ive had cars where bad WB caused pulls, but they were not AC VW.

So, Im in the yes category.

From a purchase standpoint, treat and price the car like it needs front end work and another alignment however.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:21 pm

Leaky wheel cylinder can cause the same. Leaking lots and the brake shoes will be well lubed up. Just a tiny leak will barely wet up the shoes and that side will grab even more.

Doubt if a wheel bearing will cause much if any pull because the brake shoes when used are going to center up the drum.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:55 pm

Practically every car I've driven pulls to side of the road rather than the centre if left to its own devices. I thought I read somewhere that this should be the case, for safety reasons.

If a wheel bearing were to cause excess friction then the car would pull to that side.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:50 pm

Volks Wagen wrote: Practically every car I've driven pulls to side of the road rather than the centre if left to its own devices. I thought I read somewhere that this should be the case, for safety reasons.

If a wheel bearing were to cause excess friction then the car would pull to that side.

On any crowned road a car will tend to steer by itself to the ditch due to the slight downhill of the surface of the road from center. This is known as steering. You can have a badly adjusted car where it does not want to steer straight on a flat road surface, but either to left or right.

"Pulling" on the other hand is a sudden yanking in left or right direction when brakes are applied.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:24 pm

Eric&Barb wrote:

"Pulling" on the other hand is a sudden yanking in left or right direction when brakes are applied.

Well to be a little more clear, what I meant was that when he let go of the steering wheel while driving (at any speed) the car immediately started drifting to the right. Just like a bad alignment would cause--but the seller just had an alignment done. He said it was not that bad, but it was more significant than just the crown of the road causing it. Which is why he was wondering about the wheel earing causing it

(And yes he actually could hear the grumbling of the bad wheel bearing on the right side, he knows there is a bad bearing-- just wondering if that could cause the pull.)

To be honest I have heard that before too- but when I google MF'd it, all I got were people arguing.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:30 pm

I'm in the 'No' camp. A grumbling wheel bearing isn't creating that much drag. If it's grumbling it's still rolling, and even though a bug is a light car, it's still a hell of a lot of mass. You could probably dig up a formula for how much drag would be necessary to start to turn a 1500 Lb car going 50 MPH, but that's too much work for a mental masturbation exercise.

It's probably not a big thing no matter what it is, but I'm saying no to the wheel bearing.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:36 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: Volks Wagen wrote: Practically every car I've driven pulls to side of the road rather than the centre if left to its own devices. I thought I read somewhere that this should be the case, for safety reasons.

If a wheel bearing were to cause excess friction then the car would pull to that side.

On any crowned road a car will tend to steer by itself to the ditch due to the slight downhill of the surface of the road from center. This is known as steering. You can have a badly adjusted car where it does not want to steer straight on a flat road surface, but either to left or right.

"Pulling" on the other hand is a sudden yanking in left or right direction when brakes are applied.

Well I'm aware of the crowned road situation, but aside from that I read somewhere that the suspension was setup on road cars to veer slightly to the kerbside as a safety precaution - I don't know unconscious driver or something.... not saying it's true or good. I would use the term 'pulling' as any force against the direction I'm steering in, not just under braking. Different terms and definitions abound. I've always got a very GRADUAL 'pull' to the side even on the flat in numerous owned cars and countless rentals, brand new and regularly maintained, so I think it's not just coincidence.

Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:44 pm

sb001 wrote: Eric&Barb wrote:

"Pulling" on the other hand is a sudden yanking in left or right direction when brakes are applied.

Well to be a little more clear, what I meant was that when he let go of the steering wheel while driving (at any speed) the car immediately started drifting to the right. Just like a bad alignment would cause--but the seller just had an alignment done. He said it was not that bad, but it was more significant than just the crown of the road causing it. Which is why he was wondering about the wheel earing causing it

(And yes he actually could hear the grumbling of the bad wheel bearing on the right side, he knows there is a bad bearing-- just wondering if that could cause the pull.)

To be honest I have heard that before too- but when I google MF'd it, all I got were people arguing.
People arguing on the internet?
Really?
Aw, you're just making that up. :wink: