Identify bad wheel bearing
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 295
Likes: 32
From: Woodbridge Virginia
Identify bad wheel bearing
I am reasonably sure that I have a bad wheel bearing. Initially I thought that one of my tires was bad. I was hearing what sounded like a cupped wheel when turning at speed but after doing some research on here I have convinced myself that it is most likely the bearing. My question is how do you tell which one? Is there a way to identify the bearing in question with out driving the car? I thought I read somewhere that you can use a stethoscope rotating each wheel one at a time on jacks. Any advise appreciated in advance.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Try this:
Jack up each wheel. If you grab REAR the tire at the 09:00 - 03:00 clock position and 12;00 -06:00 clock position and PUSH/PULL,, there should NOT be any lost motion. If there is, the hub is excessively worn.
The fronts will only be able to be checked in the 12-6 positions.
There is a possibility that the bearing can be noisy and not show any wear but, it not likely.
If you drive the car and turn the steering wheel a little RIGHT and a little LEFT, sometimes you can pin point the side that the noise is coming from.
Sometimes the bearing will not make noise if its rotated when its not under load.
Your best test is the wiggle test.
Bill
Jack up each wheel. If you grab REAR the tire at the 09:00 - 03:00 clock position and 12;00 -06:00 clock position and PUSH/PULL,, there should NOT be any lost motion. If there is, the hub is excessively worn.
The fronts will only be able to be checked in the 12-6 positions.
There is a possibility that the bearing can be noisy and not show any wear but, it not likely.
If you drive the car and turn the steering wheel a little RIGHT and a little LEFT, sometimes you can pin point the side that the noise is coming from.
Sometimes the bearing will not make noise if its rotated when its not under load.
Your best test is the wiggle test.
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 45
From: Long Grove IL
I just replaced my LF hub. it wasn't obvious that it was bad until i had it apart. I knew it was bad from driving, there was a vibration in the steering wheel that went away when i made a left turn.
