Front wheel bearing replacement

[Digitalwave]

Well, one if not both of my front wheel bearings are fucked. I think its only one, because when I turn one way (I forget which) the noise goes away. When I turn the other way the noise remains. If this is the case, is it recommended that I change both, or should I just change the bad one and eventually change the other one if it goes bad?

How do I tell which one is bad? Say the noise goes away when I turn left, does that mean the right one is bad? If it goes away when I turn left, is it the left one?

[nickmp0wer]

you should be able to tell which side its comming from but chances are the other isnt far behind

[Digitalwave]

Well I don't see any consequences of only doing one at a time, changing one isn't going to put more stress on the other. If the other goes, so be it.

[DarkWing6]

Wont the wheel with the bad bearing be somewhat loose? If you jack your car up and shake the wheels the loose one will be bad.

[nickmp0wer]

i dont think i will be loose unless its really bad

[Digitalwave]

That's probably not a fair test anyways, since my control arm and tie rod ball joints are both showing signs of wear which will cause play as well.

[e30sd]

probably cause of those fat spacers you're running.

[Digitalwave]

I was waiting for someone to mention my spacers.

[Dave]

TJ,

You are dead on with the diagnosis. It is the wheel bearing, and if it goes away when you turn left, it is the right one.

It aint the spacers, its the fact that the car is really old, that's all.

[Digitalwave]

I know it's not the spacers, but some people seem to think spacers affect wheel bearings.

Thanks Dave, I figured it was the opposite bearing like you said.

[nando]

I know it's not the spacers, but some people seem to think spacers affect wheel bearings.

Thanks Dave, I figured it was the opposite bearing like you said.

well they do, to a point (more wear), but not any differently than running wide tires or low offset wheels. but yeah, old cars will have old parts on them, imagine that?

I would replace both, as people said the second one is probably not too far behind.

[arsevader]

Be sure to get new dust shields , nuts and grease caps when ordering the assemblies.

The axle nut is a 36mm size. NO need for a deep socket.

James

[e30sd]

i just like giving him crap, he was super butthurt about it over there...

[Brew]

I would replace both, as people said the second one is probably not too far behind.

Word to that. I did my left one this past August, and the right one kicked the bucket in October.

[Axxe]

I did them both at once. If you are planning on changing rotors in the near future, now would be a good time if you don't feel like pulling everything apart again. But it's not a bad job it doesn't matter.