Bearing concerns
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 13
From: Kingman AZ
Bearing concerns
What are the signs of worn front wheel bearings. My steering wasnt very reactive so I adjusted it. Seems better now but it still seems to drift the lane a bit. Wondering if the front bearings could be worn. Its got 60,000 miles on it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Good chance they are with 60k if never replaced. Jack it up and grab the wheel at the 12 & 6 o-clock positions and pull back & forth to see if there's any movement. They may just need to be repacked.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
It could be the wheel bearings but could also be ball joints, tie rod ends and a-arm bushings. Most of our cars are old enough that they could use a complete front end rebuild. I'm doing mine right now. My front wheel bearings looked ok but I changed them anyway. I did find both lower ball joints were shot and the bushings on the upper a-arms were bad too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,355
Likes: 425
From: Seattle Area WA
Skip the cheap asian kits and buy all Moog components or you will be rebuilding it again in a couple years. It isn't that difficult of a job, get a service manual and a cheap 12 or 20 ton press will come in handy. If you don't know where to buy, email me.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
It could be the wheel bearings but could also be ball joints, tie rod ends and a-arm bushings. Most of our cars are old enough that they could use a complete front end rebuild. I'm doing mine right now. My front wheel bearings looked ok but I changed them anyway. I did find both lower ball joints were shot and the bushings on the upper a-arms were bad too.
When my '69 had about 60K miles it too felt vague going down the road. A front-end rebuild fixed the problem. It was done at a dealership and only the lower ball joints and tie rod ends were done. World of difference.Cheers,
Pete
Last edited by PeteZO6; Jan 17, 2008 at 01:04 PM. Reason: correct misspelling
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
Get it to a good alignment shop, they will check the front end.
If you want a good front end parts end buy MOOG parts individually. The kits are the market are cheaper in cost and quality. Do a search on ball joints and you'll see.
If you want a good front end parts end buy MOOG parts individually. The kits are the market are cheaper in cost and quality. Do a search on ball joints and you'll see.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
I just went through this last week. I have one of those common kits here, brand new if you want one of them.If you want a common kit, I'll sell it for $100 as I'll never use it but I know it's like all the others.
MOOG ran me $360 for a "kit" less sway bar bushings. This was the best price I found both local & online.
MOOG ran me $360 for a "kit" less sway bar bushings. This was the best price I found both local & online.