Rear wheel bearing or something else

[Bob Glazer]

My daughters 318I 1996 has a slight clicking noise in the rear left. She has been told that the rear wheel bearing needs to be replaced and maybe the Hub also? Can someone with BMW experience tell if this is a wheel bearing issue or an error and maybe the drive shaft or differenical??

Thanks

Bob

[darkhorse737]

jack up the suspect wheel and give a listen.

bearing probs are usually grinding noise and not clicking noise... hub is the same.

clicking noise in all likelihood is from brake hardware... pads, shims, or spring retainers.

[Nick_318is]

If the bearing is bad, when you replace it you will be replacing the hub. If you jack the car up and shake the wheel from the 3 and 9 o clock positions, and the 12 and 6 positions and if you can see/hear it move its a wheel bearing. If you have any more information it would be helpful. When you drive the car and turn right at speed do you hear a grinding/moaning/other noise, and then go left and it goes away its another indication that it might be the wheel bearing, jacking the car up will help you assess if it is a wheel bearing the easiest.