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Flat Spotted Wheel Bearings??

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by Lrob, Jan 10, 2005.

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  1. Lrob

    Lrob Karting

    Aug 13, 2004
    96
    Fairfield, CT
    Full Name:
    Larry Roberts
    #1 Lrob, Jan 10, 2005
    I shipped my Q45 to FL via an auto transport company. After I arrived and drove it I noticed a humming noise from the front end. The sound was directly related to the speed. It sounded like I had snow tires.
    I brought it to the dealer who sent the tech out for a test drive and then told me the wheel bearings were flat spotted from tying the car down too strongly on the auto carrier.

    Anyone ever hear of this?
     
  2. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 20, 2004
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    Clifford Gunboat
    #2 UroTrash, Jan 10, 2005
    sounds like a total load of cr@p.
     
  3. redhead

    redhead F1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2001
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    ~Red~
    #3 redhead, Jan 10, 2005
    Nope.
    Very common on cars transported over on a boat. Happends within the first few hundred miles that it is noticable. Have not heard about it on trucktransporters, but very common from boats.
    MB's are known for it as well as Jags.
    Seen it on a new Elise already as well.
     
  4. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Clifford Gunboat
    #4 UroTrash, Jan 10, 2005


    Well there you go. My opinion was the total load of cr@p! :)
     
  5. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 20, 2004
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    Clifford Gunboat
    #5 UroTrash, Jan 10, 2005
    Sounds like they make those bearings out of pot metal.
     
  6. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    #6 Rifledriver, Jan 10, 2005

    Hardened lead
     
  7. TOM B

    TOM B Formula 3

    Jul 24, 2003
    1,038
    Orange County, NY
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    Thomas Buckley
    #7 TOM B, Jan 11, 2005


    Don't be so hard on yourself. I still say it sounds like a load of cr@p. I've transported race cars on trailers for 20 hour trips and never had this happen nor even heard of this happening.

    Flat spotted tires....maybe. Flat spotted wheel bearings....I doubt it.

    Tom
     
  8. Lrob

    Lrob Karting

    Aug 13, 2004
    96
    Fairfield, CT
    Full Name:
    Larry Roberts
    #8 Lrob, Jan 11, 2005
    If the tires WERE flat spotted, wouldn't they work themselves out, so to speak after driving about 75 miles or so over 5 days?
     
  9. TOM B

    TOM B Formula 3

    Jul 24, 2003
    1,038
    Orange County, NY
    Full Name:
    Thomas Buckley
    #9 TOM B, Jan 11, 2005

    Most definitely. Probably less than 10 miles.

    In fact, I thought flat-spotting as an issue went away when the big change from bias ply to radial tire construction occurred.

    Tom
     
  10. redhead

    redhead F1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2001
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    ~Red~
    #10 redhead, Jan 11, 2005
    It not as if the bearings themselves flat spot, but it feels like your tyres are flat spoted when drving, in other words a "hard spot" is on the bearing and it does not roatate freely. It is noticable if you have it happend to you. It is cause like I said, mainly on the boats over, I have not heard of it being caused via auto transport.
     
  11. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Oct 23, 2002
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    Jim Glickenhaus
    #11 Napolis, Jan 11, 2005
    How was car tied down? If tied down so suspention still works I can't see how this could happen.
     
  12. Lrob

    Lrob Karting

    Aug 13, 2004
    96
    Fairfield, CT
    Full Name:
    Larry Roberts
    #12 Lrob, Jan 11, 2005
    My Q45 was tied down on the top of the auto carrier over the cab.
    The Infiniti service manager claims it occurs often in Lexus and Infiniti if they are tied down too tight.
    I've used this carrier for a few years and never had a problem.
    I WILL be getting the bearings back with the car to see how they look. If they are flat spotted, what else could cause this?
    The car drove fine until this transport trip. UGH!!
     
  13. Lrob

    Lrob Karting

    Aug 13, 2004
    96
    Fairfield, CT
    Full Name:
    Larry Roberts
    #13 Lrob, Jan 19, 2005
    I finally spoke with Customer "Dis"Service. They, (she) claims the car was torqued down too tight which caused the wheel bearings to fail and "flat spot".

    I asked if there was a spec for transport. After all, what is too tight?
    Her response "NO, we don't know that."

    I then asked how do I tell the car carrier not to torque the car tie-down too tight without a spec? No reply.

    Now they are telling me it will take until Jan 28 to get the wheel bearings which will make it 23 days from when I dropped off the car. I asked if there was a defect in them and they are now being replaced in numerous cars, therefore creating the shortage? No reply.

    Infiniti insists it was the transporters responsibility to tie down the car down properly.

    My lease is up in 5 months. I told her I would dump the car, (only 25k miles), in FL if I cannot ship it back to CT.
    Too bad, as I love this car, but....

    I then asked her "why should I buy another Infiniti if I cannot ship it without a potential problem"?

    BTW- FL dealer will take responsibility for one of them as I purchased (leased), the car from them, but the potential for future problems is my concern. Yes, car is still under warranty.

    FRUSTRATED
     

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