Mechanics! I need your opinion!

[bernard_s3]

I had a shop replace the front right wheel bearing on my 93 Civic... After driving for a few hours, I notice a swoosh, swoosh, swoosh noise coming from the front right. So I immediately pulled the tire, and notice they snapped the screws that hold on the rotor. While I know this isn't a big deal, it was obvious the rotor and wheel weren't sitting completely flush to the hub. I tightened all the lugs evenly, and it was fine, but rubbed while braking. Eventually it stopped.

Today I replaced both front rotors. While Meineke snapped off the right rotor screws, I had to drill out the left. While test driving, BOTH sides now make the swish noise!

Is it possible that the wheel isn't torqued properly, and the rotor isn't flush? I know the screws are only for assembly to hold the rotor on, and many cars don't even have them, but it seems they held the rotor tight to the hub. It is only hitting in one spot, and the dust shield shows the wear. I have done this same job to another EG and didn't have a problem (although I was able to remove and replace those screw).

What will fix this? Bending the dust shield? Removing it? Or is the rotor just not flush on the hub?

 

[whateatsrabbits]

Its the backing plates(dustsheilds), no big deal get a long screw driver and a hammer and bend them inwards a little, it make take some trial and error.

 

[Ninja_Tran]

Very common for beginner techs to bend the dust shield when taking off tires and doing jobs in that area. Just bend it back and you'll be good to go. As far as the holding screws, it's no big deal. Yes, I too made this mistake when I first started, luckily we have to do road tests after every job so it was not handed back to the customer that way.

 

[nccole]

Are all of the mating surfaces clean and free of debris? I think the dust shield solution is correct, but check that out as well. I learned that if you don't clean all the mating surfaces correctly that eventually (about 3000 miles in my case) it can cause things to loosen. I had front bearings replaced on my '97 Acura Cl, and a few months later I felt a similar vibration to when they failed and when I went to check it out two of my four lug nuts were finger tight, it was only a matter of time that my wheel would have fallen off. The tech told me that it was probably the dirt and debris behind the wheel where it mated and it worked the lug not loose and once one gets loose, another gets loose and so off it goes. If they were careless with the dust shield and banged it up, then you never know what else might be going on.

 

[Slidetechnik]

Wow, wouldn't ever take my car back to a shop that couldn't even get a wheel on right...would definitely have a chat with the owner if I were you. I'm sure that he'd like to know that one of his guy's ignorance(or deliberate corner cutting) could possibly be endangering customers.