Wheel Bearing Woes.

[burnsauto]

Alright, this has been bothering me awhile now. My front driver side wheel bearing was starting to squeal on longer trips (anything above half an hour of driving).

So..
I replaced it, with a new one. Had it pressed in by a friend, and it sounded great for a few miles down the road. Then the squealing started up again.

So..

I got really fed up with it, so I got an entire set of 4 lug hubs from a user off here (thanks again). I replaced every single wheel bearing on the car, just for good measure. ... A few miles down the road, and the squealing started up again, same side...driver front wheel.

I've tried parts store new..
I've tried OEM used..

I'm stuck. could it be the toe is off and is putting force off-center to the wheel bearing, causing it to squeal? What am I missing?

[projectRDM]

You're certain it's the bearing?

Bearings typically groan when going bad, and there's visible play if it's bad enough. A higher pitched sound is probably something else.

[coww-cho!!!!!]

You're certain it's the bearing?

Bearings typically groan when going bad, and there's visible play if it's bad enough. A higher pitched sound is probably something else.
yup
for a moment i was also thinking if your driver side brakes had siezed and brakes were worn out becuase of the squeeling you are hearing because bearing do make a totally different noise take off the wheel and
inspect everything in the drivers side and let us know what is the culprit

[SochBAT]

IIRC, bearings = rolling groan. Sounds rotational? I'm leaning towards your brakes. Are you properly aligned? No Toe/camber/caster anything?

[burnsauto]

i never made any adjustments of the toe, the camber is a little off because its lowered, and caster was never adjusted. I put new brakes on the front, and replaced the pads on the rear while i was doing all four wheel bearings. It is def. rotational.. i can hear it squeal nice and slow as i pull into my driveway.

any other ideas of what it could be? I'm truly at a loss right now.

[projectRDM]

Can you duplicate the noise with the wheel in the air? Or, can you put it in the air but set it on something to load the wheel, then rotate it?

A bearing won't make a noise in the air as there's no load on it unless it's truly shitty, and you'd know that since the wheel would flop around like a small man's penis inside a hooker. Brakes however shouldn't matter under load or no load, they're not going to change position with the car on the ground or in the air. You might also remove the caliper completely and then listen for the noise when rotating the wheel, that would take it completely out of the equation. Also check the brake dust shields, even the slightest bend on one can rub and make serious noises.

[let5l1de]

I'm ruling bearing/hub assembly out since you have replace most major hub assembly parts. Bearings do usually have a distinct grind when they go bad unless they are new bearings and completely ungreased. Older or well used bearings (front wheel bearings) will typically send vibration signals up through the steering wheel.

No explanations are needed since I believe you are knowledgeable. I'll throw a few ideas out (even if they seem obvious) and you can check these at your convenience.

---

Flush the brake fluid and properly bleed the brake system.

Clean the calipers (what calipers do you use) guides, pistons free of debris and properly lubricate moving parts.

Check the backing plate for any slight bends that may interfere with any rotating part.

Visually check the tire for rubbing wear and be sure all components are not making contact with the rotating assembly.

gl

~m

[KrazyS13]

I say check your rotor backing plate. Theres no way it's your bearings if you've replaced all of them.

I did my 5 lug swap on my car yesterday, and I swear I didnt touch the backing plate but when I went out for the test drive afterwards it had a bad rotational squeal from the driver side front. Came home, bent the plate back and it's quiet as can be now. Put your car in the air and spin the wheel to try and duplicate the sound.

[Driftastic]

sounds like the brakes may be dragging a little. Also if you just changed your pads did you make sure to put some of that anti-squeel gel on the back plate of the brake pads?

[s14canyoncity]

mine make this noise on the driver side... im sure its the bearing just to lazy to check..

video from Youtube when i was doing some research.

YouTube - Bad pass. side wheel bearings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uu43ruM2G8)

any one in socal parting out a 14 .. be easier and less grease if i just replace instead of repack.

[drift_king]

hahaha this reminds me of the time when i put one of my brake pads on upside-down.

you might want to check them..

[projectRDM]

hahaha this reminds me of the time when i put one of my brake pads on upside-down.

you might want to check them..

How could you possibly put pads on upside down, they only go in one way unless they were backwards.

[drift_king]

How could you possibly put pads on upside down, they only go in one way unless they were backwards.


haha, pad on the inside was upside down meaning it didnt wrap around the rotor like a cresent moon. it acually stoped fine too. but sqeeled like a pig .:duh::ddog:

[Mikey444]

A trick for the wheel bearings is. Lift it in the air and spin each wheel. While spinning at wheel put your hand on the spring, if its the wheel bearing the spring will vibrate.

[vvtisupra]

your dust shield is hitting your brake rotor on the very inside

[lazysk8er2]

your dust shield is hitting your brake rotor on the very inside


i second this i get a lot of customers who come from other stations after a brake job and the damn dust shield is grooving into the rotor.

i hate when people dont doublecheck their work.

bad bearings can generally be checked by a moaning groaning sound as previously stated. more than likely it gets louder when you turn in one direction while driving. and if you turn in the other direction the moaning noise gets lower or disappears.

a squeal is something scrapping.

[s13.dark1]

to check the bearing try jacking the car up and spin the wheel if it groans change them. i have a feeling its your anti raddle clips slideing to one side or the other and touching ur rotor simply bend the tabs that it has down on the caliper so they dont move 4 shtt.

[Sileighty_85]

to check the bearing try jacking the car up and spin the wheel if it groans change them. i have a feeling its your anti raddle clips slideing to one side or the other and touching ur rotor simply bend the tabs that it has down on the caliper so they dont move 4 shtt.


your not gonna hear the wheel bearing moan with no load as Project RDM said, when you get pass a certain speed you will hear what lazysk8er2 said.

[projectRDM]

to check the bearing try jacking the car up and spin the wheel if it groans change them. i have a feeling its your anti raddle clips slideing to one side or the other and touching ur rotor simply bend the tabs that it has down on the caliper so they dont move 4 shtt.

Welcome to last year. I'm pretty sure he's fixed it by now since this thread is from October.