Advice please. Doing Bearings for the first time.

[cutlasssupremeking]

I hear a squeaking from my front right wheel and it bothers me. I changed brake pads and rotors, but the squeaking was still there. I now think it is the bearings and have decided to do the bearings.

 

Initially I wanted to open up the wheel and clean the bearings and re-grease them, but after viewing this thread, it doesn't look like I can do that. It seems that replacement of the whole bearing thing is all I can do.

 

Before I jump feet first into yet another car repair I have no experience in, I thought I'd ask the Forum for advice.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Darryl

[xtremerevolution]

Replace the bearing. It is true that you can't just re-grease these.

 

Get the Timken brand bearing if you can find it, and stay away from chinese companies.

 

You can get the axle out with a hammer. Careful not to beat up the thread or the nut. I have a spare nut for this very purpose, so I can screw it on 3/4 of the way, and hammer into the nut without worrying about damaging something I'll need. Alternately, you can put the original nut on, a piece of wood on top of the nut, and hammer that, but I can't guarantee that it will work. You'll need a few really good smacks with a hammer to get the axle out.

[White93z34]

If you have antilock be careful when working around the wheel speed sensors, after you get all 4 hub bolts removed I usually use a 6inch socket extension and a hammer to drive the retaining pins out from the back.

 

Also if you live in northern climates some rust may be holding it into the knuckle even after all the bolts are out.

 

To date I have not really had an issue with the axles getting stuck in the hub, but everything Andrei told you should work for getting a stuck one out.

[GOT2B GM]

are you sure the wheel hub is the root cause of your squeaking sound?

[jman093]

are you sure the wheel hub is the root cause of your squeaking sound?

 

x2, Never heard one "squeak" before. Usually they make make a growling or rumbling type sound at higher speeds or can occasionally make a moaning sound at speed. Squeaking usually is something in the suspension or something loose.

[cutlasssupremeking]

are you sure the wheel hub is the root cause of your squeaking sound?

Honestly, no I don't know that it's the wheel hub that is causing the squeaking. But, I don't know what else it could be. The sound is cyclical with the wheels. So, I hear it only when the car is moving. Braking doesn't have any effect on the squeaking, so it's not the brakes. What else could it be?

[GOT2B GM]

No dust shields / ball joint heat shields are making contact with the rotating components?

[cutlasssupremeking]

No dust shields / ball joint heat shields are making contact with the rotating components?

Dust shields for what? The rotor? The Axle?

 

And if the ball joint head WAS making contact, wouldn't the fix be to replace the hub?

[GOT2B GM]

well i guess there isnt any dust shields on the front of these cars.... but the bj heat shield could be bent....... just something to check before you swap the hub.

 

caliper sliders are good?

[cutlasssupremeking]

Thanks. I'll for sure check the Ball Joint heat shield. If it keeps me from replacing my front set of hubs, I'm down.

 

My caliper sliders are good. They aren't bent and I re-grease them every time I replace brake pads or rotors.