Alignment off after replacing wheel hub?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Alignment off after replacing wheel hub?
Had one of the front wheel hubs replaced yesterday on my '11 Grand Sport and now it seems like there's a weird pull or wobble when i get on the highway. This was the 2nd wheel hub I've had to replace in the last month. First time around was one of the rear hubs. Had 4 wheel alignment done shortly thereafter.
Would replacing a front wheel hub typically affect the alignment??
Would replacing a front wheel hub typically affect the alignment??
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I can't imagine why you're having to replace so many hubs. Sure, anything mechanical can have a problem but replacing your second hub on a 2011 seems a bit too frequent. I'd definitely take the car back in and have it checked. If everything is done right there shouldn't be a 'wobble' problem. Perhaps the hub was defective or something in the installation process was done incorrectly. It's possible something else entirely is affecting the car. FWIW I recommend the SKF racing hubs/bearings (like are used on the ZR1 I believe). My car sees regular high stress use. When I had a bearing start to go-bad a couple years ago I changed-out all 4 with the SKF hubs/bearings and they've worked great ever since. Good luck and let us know what you find is causing the problem.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,062
Likes: 9,825
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
If the hubs are being replaced that often I suspect the OP may be tracking the car as that is hard on the hubs and tie rod ends.
Bill
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Replacing a front hub doesn't require that much work. Pull the wheel and brake caliper and remove the lower ball joint nut and loosen the ball joint so you can back out the lower bolt holding the wheel bearing in place. You don't disconnect the tie rod or control arms or anything else with that has to do with the alignment. Rear is more difficult but even then you don't really impact the alignment. What impacts alignment is when the car is aligned with a loose bearing and the bearing is subsequently replaced thus changing the relationship of the wheel to the knuckle since the wheel doesn't flop around as much.
If the hubs are being replaced that often I suspect the OP may be tracking the car as that is hard on the hubs and tie rod ends.
Bill
If the hubs are being replaced that often I suspect the OP may be tracking the car as that is hard on the hubs and tie rod ends.
Bill
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,062
Likes: 9,825
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I wish I could say I was tracking the car and that that's what's causing the problem. At least then I'd feel like it's actually worth the while having to deal with these kind of probs. At least then I'd be getting some thrill and enjoyment out of the deal, not just a headache. But, unfortunately, No, I haven't been tracking the car. I do use it as my daily driver though (ever other day is probably more accurate). But I don't drive it like it's stolen that's for sure. Pretty easy on it.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
Replacing a front hub doesn't require that much work. Pull the wheel and brake caliper and remove the lower ball joint nut and loosen the ball joint so you can back out the lower bolt holding the wheel bearing in place. You don't disconnect the tie rod or control arms or anything else with that has to do with the alignment. Rear is more difficult but even then you don't really impact the alignment. What impacts alignment is when the car is aligned with a loose bearing and the bearing is subsequently replaced thus changing the relationship of the wheel to the knuckle since the wheel doesn't flop around as much.
If the hubs are being replaced that often I suspect the OP may be tracking the car as that is hard on the hubs and tie rod ends.
Bill
If the hubs are being replaced that often I suspect the OP may be tracking the car as that is hard on the hubs and tie rod ends.
Bill
That doesnt mean they didnt forget tighten or damage something when they put it back together. I would have it looked at just to be safe. But a lot of times when something gets worked on people tend to focus on the car more and notice things that may have been there for a while.
Better safe than sorry and have it checked out. FWIW ny old C5 went through a couple hub bearings in 30K miles. I didnt track the car, they just started making noise.
