Full Version: Rear end wheel bearing?
My car makes a noise..similar to as if my wheels were rubbing the fender wall..this only happens when im doing highway speeds, and it only does it when i turn the wheel VERY SLIGHTLY to the right. But my wheels are not rubbing. Seems like its the front passenger side but when i check to see if there is any play in wheel bearing...they are solid as a rock...as for my rear wheels they have some play in them, are my rear wheels when off the ground sappose to be solid as a rock like my front, or have a little play?
Your front wheels use a cartridge bearing and should have very little to zero play. The bearings can be bad and still not have any play--are they dry? A good test is to go around a right hand and then a left hand turn that has a curb. The bad bearing will be loaded and the noise will be reflected from the curb. That reflected noise can be heard thru an open window.
The rear wheel bearings are a known disaster and the bearings can wear out in as little as 35,000 miles. You should always replace the axle and the bearing at the same time. It is surprisingly easy to do that and can be done by you, at home, with simple hand tools and a good torque wrench. I had a garage replace mine. There is one trick to this that I recommend--buy some good aftermarket axles--your choice, but be prepared to pay some good solid mulah to get them. Using OEM axles is like throwing away your money and they are even more expensive than the aftermarket equipment.
The rear wheel bearing wears directly on the axle and generally wears it out--there is an induction hardened wear area on the axle and that is what is the bearing surface...that is why the axle wears out. Also, the OEM bearings are just plain old crap! Buy some good ones made by Timken, or whichever brand you can get, but stay away from the OEM stuff.
IF the rear wheel bearings are worn, the rear axle gear lube will get thru the seal and contaminate the brake pads, it will also eat up the rubber seals used on the caliper--this can be bad. It's best to tend to this problem right away.
The rear wheel bearings are a known disaster and the bearings can wear out in as little as 35,000 miles. You should always replace the axle and the bearing at the same time. It is surprisingly easy to do that and can be done by you, at home, with simple hand tools and a good torque wrench. I had a garage replace mine. There is one trick to this that I recommend--buy some good aftermarket axles--your choice, but be prepared to pay some good solid mulah to get them. Using OEM axles is like throwing away your money and they are even more expensive than the aftermarket equipment.
The rear wheel bearing wears directly on the axle and generally wears it out--there is an induction hardened wear area on the axle and that is what is the bearing surface...that is why the axle wears out. Also, the OEM bearings are just plain old crap! Buy some good ones made by Timken, or whichever brand you can get, but stay away from the OEM stuff.
IF the rear wheel bearings are worn, the rear axle gear lube will get thru the seal and contaminate the brake pads, it will also eat up the rubber seals used on the caliper--this can be bad. It's best to tend to this problem right away.
QUOTE(Me Too @ Nov 26 2008, 07:20 PM) 
Your front wheels use a cartridge bearing and should have very little to zero play. The bearings can be bad and still not have any play--are they dry? A good test is to go around a right hand and then a left hand turn that has a curb. The bad bearing will be loaded and the noise will be reflected from the curb. That reflected noise can be heard thru an open window.
The rear wheel bearings are a known disaster and the bearings can wear out in as little as 35,000 miles. You should always replace the axle and the bearing at the same time. It is surprisingly easy to do that and can be done by you, at home, with simple hand tools and a good torque wrench. I had a garage replace mine. There is one trick to this that I recommend--buy some good aftermarket axles--your choice, but be prepared to pay some good solid mulah to get them. Using OEM axles is like throwing away your money and they are even more expensive than the aftermarket equipment.
The rear wheel bearing wears directly on the axle and generally wears it out--there is an induction hardened wear area on the axle and that is what is the bearing surface...that is why the axle wears out. Also, the OEM bearings are just plain old crap! Buy some good ones made by Timken, or whichever brand you can get, but stay away from the OEM stuff.
IF the rear wheel bearings are worn, the rear axle gear lube will get thru the seal and contaminate the brake pads, it will also eat up the rubber seals used on the caliper--this can be bad. It's best to tend to this problem right away.
The rear wheel bearings are a known disaster and the bearings can wear out in as little as 35,000 miles. You should always replace the axle and the bearing at the same time. It is surprisingly easy to do that and can be done by you, at home, with simple hand tools and a good torque wrench. I had a garage replace mine. There is one trick to this that I recommend--buy some good aftermarket axles--your choice, but be prepared to pay some good solid mulah to get them. Using OEM axles is like throwing away your money and they are even more expensive than the aftermarket equipment.
The rear wheel bearing wears directly on the axle and generally wears it out--there is an induction hardened wear area on the axle and that is what is the bearing surface...that is why the axle wears out. Also, the OEM bearings are just plain old crap! Buy some good ones made by Timken, or whichever brand you can get, but stay away from the OEM stuff.
IF the rear wheel bearings are worn, the rear axle gear lube will get thru the seal and contaminate the brake pads, it will also eat up the rubber seals used on the caliper--this can be bad. It's best to tend to this problem right away.
Just wanted to say Thanks for the info on this Post, I have a 97 3.8L with the rear bearing going out, I have been driving on it for about 1500 miles waiting on my dad to get home to help me fix it (keeps getting louder) I know its bad to drive on it but i gotta get it fixed and was gonna get oem parts untill reading this post THANKS again for your input.
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