Stinger Nation, I have a question, so I was victim to a pothole not too long ago, maybe going 40+. Damaged the fender liner( since has been replaced). Prior to fender liner replacement, I took my car to the dealer, and they’ve been pretty good with me for the time that I have had the car, I told them that I the car vibrates after 30 MPH, they kept it a few days and said that they would check for control arm damage, etc.. after a few days they call and said the vibration is due to the rim being bent/flattened and rims are on backorder, they did put me in touch with their rim repair folks. I take it in and they have a back rim, but I needed a front right rim. They said that they could fix it and recommended replacing the rear rim because there was a bend on the face, whatever, I replaced it and they repaired to front right rim, they said they got it zero’d out, resurfaced the other rims for minor curb rash, all good. I picked Dirty Red up on Friday and drive to work, on the way there once I got up to about 48 and higher I could hear a slight humming, but no serious steering issues, no grinding, just a dull hum. Once I take my foot off of the accelerator it’s still there. I’m wondering if the wheel bearing is damaged or if when I had the rim fixed if I should’ve replaced the tire as well.
Bad Tire or Wheel Bearing?
- Thread starter 1&Done
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MerlintheMad
10000 Posts Club!
If no visible damage to tire, I'd suspect the wheel bearing: except that it would take some serious side pressure to damage a bearing: straight on smack that bends the wheel slightly (as yours sound like) shouldn't do anything to a bearing. What happens when you push up to extra legal speeds in Mexico? Or can you even risk it with the issues?
No issues, no steering wheel or floor board shaking/vibrations, just the humming, that sounds like tire droning.
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MerlintheMad
10000 Posts Club!
What psi do you use? I run as close to cold 40 psi as possible at all four corners.
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36 front, 37 rear. When I picked it up they were between 45-48
MerlintheMad
10000 Posts Club!
That is a "tad" too high alright. 
When you go faster the hum increases in pitch and volume, I presume.
When you go faster the hum increases in pitch and volume, I presume.No, that’s the funny thing, it stays about the same, even when I’m coasting. My Kia guy said that I would need to get an alignment after the rim repair, and suggested replacing the tire, which is what I’m going to do this weekThat is a "tad" too high alright.
MerlintheMad
10000 Posts Club!
That seems strange. Any rotating surfaces that make noise will increase in pitch and volume as speed increases. It's possible that you have two surfaces vibrating in "harmony" when the road surface transmits through the contact patch of the tires. I'm imagining the plastic "fender liner" (wheel well liner) not fastened properly and it is vibrating against the steel fender.
bfglitch
Stinger Enthusiast
Not always. I (well not me but my ex) had a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek, eventually all 4 wheel bearings were shot. At very low speed it had a sort of low groan/hum. It didn't really change in pitch or volume much though as the car went faster. It might have changed sound a tiny bit, but not much. And at first, I didn't think it was wheel bearings either but I had a mechanic friend sit in the car and he confirmed it was the bearings.
As for whether or not hitting a pothole hard could cause a wheel bearing issue...I'll just say...possibly.
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
I think it’s either the tire, or the bearing, either way I will pay for either, or both and an alignment, not sure how much the bearing goes for, but I am not worried about the tire price, I still have a warranty on it.
