How to tell if its a bad wheel bearing or ball joint?

Question

I just bought a 1994 mustang GT and when you drive it makes a grinding/rubbing sound. It does it even if I'm just coasting. You can feel the vibration of whatevers rubbing. I thought the rotors might be warped so I replaced them but it still does it. It also makes a popping and rubbing noise if you your moving with the wheel all the way turned. (I'm not sure if this is the same problem). I jacked up the car and the front drivers side tire has a tiny bit of play when you push and pull on it with your hands positoned at 12 and 6 on the tire. I think its either a wheel bearing or a ball joint or maybe both, but is there anyway to tell which one it is? Thanks

Answer 1

the grinding and rubbing is an indication of bearings needing to be replaced

Answer 2

The popping sound would lead me to think its a ball joint. If you are gonna change that you might as well do the wheel bearing too, they are not expensive. I have a 96 and i have noticed a lot of play in the steering rack, I would check out the steering linkage ball joints as well. As far as telling the difference between the two, i am not sure but replacing the wheel bearings is not that hard, you might just want to do that and see if it helps.

Answer 3

Ball joint?
Jack one front tire just enough off the ground at the lower control arm to slip a big prybar under the tire. Now, lift. up-down-up-down can you see or feel it in the prybar? (play)

Wheel bearings tend to make a growling sound when the are worn. However, if it has surpased the first stage of wear, it could create all kinds of noises.

Answer 4

Get Joint Pain Relief Codes!

Answer 5

first a question when driving down the road at 35-45 mph does the noise change if you turn slightly to left or right (slalom) if so wheel bearing as long as it is not tire noise which would be obvious by inspecting tires. as for checking ball joint pretty good descriptions in other answers.

Answer 6

If weight of car was on suspension you probably wouldn't have felt play of ball joint as you would have to overcome preload of strut. You probably felt play in bearing. but,Was car jacked on suspension or body, or center of frameIf you are not sure about this or haven't done front suspension work before, PLEASE take it to an alignment shop for an inspection. Some are free others charge a small fee, credited to job if done. Jack up car & safely rest lower control arms on suitable supports, such as jack stands, so that suspension is supporting weight of car as normal. Once safely supported you may inspect from underside. Have a helper rotate wheels, move from side to side, etc. as you observe steering linkage looking for excessive play

Answer 7

The humming noise is a wheel bearing. On that truck you need to buy the complete hub assembly because they don't sell the bearing by itself. It's not cheap.

Answer 8

a ball joint shouldn't make grinding sounds that would be bearings but the popping when you turn or hit bumps that would be ball joints.

Answer 9

TO check if its the wheel bearing pick up on bottom of tire if it moves up &down its the wheelbearing to check if its a balljoin take the tire off grab the rotor and pull out on it if it moves its bad get it replaced I had one go out the a-arm came off the spindle.

Answer 10

jack the car up, put it in neutral with something to block the back wheels. Have someone shake the wheel side-side, then up and down. Put your hand on the ball joints and between the ball joints and knuckle. If you feel play then it's the ball joints. Now if you put your fingers between the rotor and wheel while someone is shacking it up and down, and side-side it is the hub assembly. Hub assembly holds the wheel bearings in them

Answer 11

Replace the axle and you'll be fine but more then likely replace one you have to replace both due to good one putting all the stress on the old one making it go bad but it shouldn't run you well I'd say no more then 200 for axles its usually about 69.99 an axle