Video How To- Wheel Bearing Diagnosis
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St. Jude Donor '21
Video How To- Wheel Bearing Diagnosis
Guys I have had a wheel bearing slowly going bad over the past month or so. I diagnosed it last week step by step and fixed the culprit. Put together a video how to for others to follow if they suspect a bad bearing or want to rule one out.
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St. Jude Donor '08
Very well documented. Excellent job.
Bill
Bill
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Swerve test - last car I dealt with the right bearing was bad and the sound got much louder swerving to the right with no real change swerving to the left. So, the sound getting louder when the wheel is loaded more and going quieter when the wheel is unloaded isn't always correct.
I did the same run in gear test but the bearing was bad enough I didn't need a stethoscope to hear the difference.
I did the same run in gear test but the bearing was bad enough I didn't need a stethoscope to hear the difference.
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St. Jude Donor '21
Swerve test - last car I dealt with the right bearing was bad and the sound got much louder swerving to the right with no real change swerving to the left. So, the sound getting louder when the wheel is loaded more and going quieter when the wheel is unloaded isn't always correct.
I did the same run in gear test but the bearing was bad enough I didn't need a stethoscope to hear the difference.
I did the same run in gear test but the bearing was bad enough I didn't need a stethoscope to hear the difference.
Good points. I was hoping to give some basic tests to start with but I agree depending on what part of the bearing/hub assembly is bad there you can get some different twists on the way the noises/vibrations present themselves.
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These are all good things to do. However, a couple of other points since things don't always go as you might think they will.
First, just because you think the noise is coming from the rear doesn't mean it is.
Second, the swerving on the road doesn't always correctly identify which side the bad hub is on.
Third, turning the wheel and listening to it may or may not tell you whether the hub is bad since there are other things that can make noise when you turn the wheel. Same goes if you are trying to detect a drag.
I had a similar noise and thought the diff or the right rear wheel bearing was going bad. Since I had GMPP I took it to the dealer and the mechanic actually found the culprit was the right front. When I picked up the car he showed me how he finally verified it was the right front bearing. He handed the old hub to me and told me to twist it with my hands. I could feel a very slight roughness as I slowly turned the hub in my hands. He told me even when he listened to it while still on the car it was hard to hear and know for sure so he pulled the hub to make verify that was the problem.
Bill
First, just because you think the noise is coming from the rear doesn't mean it is.
Second, the swerving on the road doesn't always correctly identify which side the bad hub is on.
Third, turning the wheel and listening to it may or may not tell you whether the hub is bad since there are other things that can make noise when you turn the wheel. Same goes if you are trying to detect a drag.
I had a similar noise and thought the diff or the right rear wheel bearing was going bad. Since I had GMPP I took it to the dealer and the mechanic actually found the culprit was the right front. When I picked up the car he showed me how he finally verified it was the right front bearing. He handed the old hub to me and told me to twist it with my hands. I could feel a very slight roughness as I slowly turned the hub in my hands. He told me even when he listened to it while still on the car it was hard to hear and know for sure so he pulled the hub to make verify that was the problem.
Bill
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St. Jude Donor '21
These are all good things to do. However, a couple of other points since things don't always go as you might think they will.
First, just because you think the noise is coming from the rear doesn't mean it is.
Second, the swerving on the road doesn't always correctly identify which side the bad hub is on.
Third, turning the wheel and listening to it may or may not tell you whether the hub is bad since there are other things that can make noise when you turn the wheel. Same goes if you are trying to detect a drag.
I had a similar noise and thought the diff or the right rear wheel bearing was going bad. Since I had GMPP I took it to the dealer and the mechanic actually found the culprit was the right front. When I picked up the car he showed me how he finally verified it was the right front bearing. He handed the old hub to me and told me to twist it with my hands. I could feel a very slight roughness as I slowly turned the hub in my hands. He told me even when he listened to it while still on the car it was hard to hear and know for sure so he pulled the hub to make verify that was the problem.
Bill
First, just because you think the noise is coming from the rear doesn't mean it is.
Second, the swerving on the road doesn't always correctly identify which side the bad hub is on.
Third, turning the wheel and listening to it may or may not tell you whether the hub is bad since there are other things that can make noise when you turn the wheel. Same goes if you are trying to detect a drag.
I had a similar noise and thought the diff or the right rear wheel bearing was going bad. Since I had GMPP I took it to the dealer and the mechanic actually found the culprit was the right front. When I picked up the car he showed me how he finally verified it was the right front bearing. He handed the old hub to me and told me to twist it with my hands. I could feel a very slight roughness as I slowly turned the hub in my hands. He told me even when he listened to it while still on the car it was hard to hear and know for sure so he pulled the hub to make verify that was the problem.
Bill
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St. Jude Donor '21
Guys I have had a wheel bearing slowly going bad over the past month or so. I diagnosed it last week step by step and fixed the culprit. Put together a video how to for others to follow if they suspect a bad bearing or want to rule one out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIbX6_KY0AU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIbX6_KY0AU
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