Wheel Bearings
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Shoreline WA
Wheel Bearings
Can someone tell me what the warning signs & sounds are of failing wheel bearings? Mine have been diagnosed as "a little loose" but I'm wondering how driveable and for how long? In other words: can I plan a long road trip or should I plan my next mechanic's appointment? I'm not hearing any noise from them now and handling/braking seem okay.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Noise....when bad they will growl. If the front wheel bearings are "loose", then turn the spindle nut 1/4 or just enought to tighten them. When tight, there won't be any movement of the wheel
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Connecticut, USA
Front or Rear? front are easy to adjust or replace, the rears require some knowledge of bearing setup and tools. I would question just what is meant by a "little loose", if they need adjustment why weren't they done? If the concern is in the rear brg's then I would get in touch with someone who knows about them, they should have no more then .002" end play.
Gary
Gary
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Knoxville Tennessee
Are these your front wheel bearings? Assuming they are, if they have gotten loose, it is easy to take them out inspect them, repack them and reinstall. If they have a lot of miles on them, I would just replace them while I had them out. I would not wait around to have them checked. It they fail you could lose a front wheel and when they do fail it gets ugly very quickly.
If your rear wheel bearings are the loose ones, I would be thinking about getting the trailing arms rebuilt before the spindles are ruined. Hope this helps you with your decision.
Bernie
If your rear wheel bearings are the loose ones, I would be thinking about getting the trailing arms rebuilt before the spindles are ruined. Hope this helps you with your decision.
Bernie
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: San Antonio TX
Tapered roller bearings have a very specific setup (either front or rear) to allow operating clearance with the race. If they are too loose, you can induce a shimmy. If they are too tight, the bearing will overheat, brinell and fail.
It's not too difficult to work on the front end bearings since the clearance is achieved through the proper adjustment of the nut on the spindle.
The rears, however, are far more complicated as you can see from what is already written.
If the bearing is making noise now, it is not long for this world. If you drive it until in fails you are in for far greater expense since it's not just the bearing that fails. Wheel bearing failures will take out the hub (or spindle support on the rear) and spindle. Both of these will add about an order of magnitude to the repair bill.
If your mechanic says the bearings are failing and you trust his judgment, then get them fixed.
It's not too difficult to work on the front end bearings since the clearance is achieved through the proper adjustment of the nut on the spindle.
The rears, however, are far more complicated as you can see from what is already written.
If the bearing is making noise now, it is not long for this world. If you drive it until in fails you are in for far greater expense since it's not just the bearing that fails. Wheel bearing failures will take out the hub (or spindle support on the rear) and spindle. Both of these will add about an order of magnitude to the repair bill.
If your mechanic says the bearings are failing and you trust his judgment, then get them fixed.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Minnesota
Typically bearings that fail will exhibit some characteristic signs such as a wheel passing you on the freeway or loud screeching as your frame rubs the pavement 
. Seriously, if you're planning any kind of longer trip and the status of your rear bearings is unknown I would have them redone by someone like Bairs ($150/side) or VanSteel. Between age and the added stress of the larger tires everyone uses now you'll end up doing it sooner or later. Best to get it done before they totally fail. The front ones are relatively simple to do yourself.
. Seriously, if you're planning any kind of longer trip and the status of your rear bearings is unknown I would have them redone by someone like Bairs ($150/side) or VanSteel. Between age and the added stress of the larger tires everyone uses now you'll end up doing it sooner or later. Best to get it done before they totally fail. The front ones are relatively simple to do yourself.
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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Originally Posted by GDaina
Noise....when bad they will growl. If the front wheel bearings are "loose", then turn the spindle nut 1/4 or just enough to tighten them. When tight, there won't be any movement of the wheel
on a trip in my 1974 El Camino I had the front end suddenly pull to the left. I pulled over thinking that the tire went down. I noticed that the front left hub was a little warm (it was 30 degrees outside and the hub was warm to the touch). I thought I could limp the truck another 30 miles into town to get it fixed.
I went about 2 more miles and put the El Camino and the trailer it was pulling in to the center ditch of a busy interstate. The left front bearing locked up, and turned the end of the spindle right off. The tire folded up under the car and in the wheel well and the car went down and turned into the ditch. It ruined the spindle, caliper, rotor, brake line and my underwear.
I would have it looked at. Front bearings are not hard to change, I just did the ones on my Vette 3 weeks ago. More messy than anything.
