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Possible wheel bearing problem?

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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 01:40 PM
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Nathan Plemons's Avatar
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Default Possible wheel bearing problem?

I've noticed for the past week or so what sounded like a squeak coming from the rear of the car when I back out of the garage. I didn't really think about it that much it was pretty hard to hear over the exhaust and all.

Well back at school in the parking structure I've come to the conclusion that I wasn't just imagining the noise. The concrete amplifies noises very nicely, so it caught my attention. With the windows down I cut the engine and just let it drift. Sure enough there is a terrible squeak squeak squeak coming from somewhere in the back. It sounds a lot like it's on the driver's side rear.

The timing of the sound does seem to be related to wheelspeed, much like one squeak per revolution. I'm sure I can fix it easy enough, I've just got to know what exactly is squeaking. Any thoughts or experiences? I'm guessing wheel bearing but I suppose it could easily be a U-joint as well.

Any good ways to isolate exactly what is making the noise? Also how hard is it to replace a u joint or wheel bearing?
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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 02:33 PM
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Default Re: Possible wheel bearing problem? (Nathan Plemons)

Hi, I wont pretend being an expert.. but I've noticed that every one on the forrum jumps to the conclusion that it must be a bering or a U joint.

My car had a very simaly noise as your describing, but it made the noise at the front right wheel of the car... every revolution if would make a squeek or tap noise noise would occur.... its hard to describe noises into words, I'm sure a lot of us can agree.

Anyway's after taking off the wheel I nodiced that the front disk has little cracks going through them at the edge of the disk, one crack was bigger then others and each time the brake pad roled over that section of the disk... the caliper would make the squeek or tap or crack noise.... snap crakle pop!! hahaha :D

just kidding

Anyway's, just goes to show you it could be something else. Take off the wheel and have a look or just let a local garage have a look for you if your not planning on doing the work yourself.
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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 02:35 PM
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Default Re: Possible wheel bearing problem? (Nathan Plemons)

Squeaking-Bearing for mine, although the pass. side usually goes first.

The harder shifting into D and R told me that i had a bad U-joint.

U-joint replacement requires a press, but the bearing isnt that bad, you might as well do both if theyve never been replaced.
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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 02:46 PM
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Default Re: Possible wheel bearing problem? (TheStef)

Well I can't really afford to do any work myself, so I REALLY can't afford to let anybody else do it. That means I'm gonna HAVE to look at it myself. There's also the problem that I don't trust anybody else with my car :)

I can't imagine that it would be a brake / rotor problem, the pads and rotors were put on new a little over a year ago and have never been turned. I can't discount it either until I pull the wheel off of it and take a look.

I'm certainly keeping an open mind until I can look into it a little further.

Vader,

That's kinda what I was thinking on the u-joints. I've got access to a press if need be so that shouldn't be too hard. U-joints are cheap enough so I figured I might replace them if I had to replace the wheel bearing. I will not however being replacing the wheel bearing if I can see that it might just be a bad U joint.
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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 02:52 PM
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Default Re: Possible wheel bearing problem? (Nathan Plemons)

Jack up the side making the noise. Hands at 12 & 6 and try to rock the wheel. If you get play it is the bearing. Hands at 3 & 9 with movement is the tie rod end. When bearings go they easily can take the outter u-joint with them.
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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 03:07 PM
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Default Re: Possible wheel bearing problem? (scorp508)

Cool, will check on that. I called up the local parts store, wheel bearing (hub assembly) is $143 and the u joints are $17 or $9 depending on what brand I want.

He gave me two brands on that, neiter was brute force or spicer. I know enough to know that I don't want Brute Force :)
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