36000 miles I've noticed it for about 1000 miles or so. Can I make this trip or should I rent a car? I shook the rear wheel it has very little play but, the other side is solid. Guessing by the slight rumble it is a wheel bearing. Any advice for a semi self taught mechanic?
2007-08-23 12:17:39 · 5 answers · asked by Phil S 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
well to test if its the wheel bearing or not Jack the suspect tire off the ground and then holding top and bottom of tire, push/pull several times. if it has a lot of slack or makes a clinking noise get it repaired before trip. Also spin the tire by hand while it is in air it should turn smoothly and quietly (just a little stiff but keeps spinning for a short time once you get it started) if it is hard to spin, or you hear a plinking noise as it turns get repaired before trip. Normally rear wheel bearings are fairly easy to replace (on front wheel drive cars) if you have just a little mechanical sense, and a shop manual you can get at any parts store for around 20 bucks.
Good Luck.
2007-08-23 12:30:56 · answer #1 · answered by P W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may get away with a little noise but if there is noticeable chuck when tou try to pull the top of the wheel out on the top and push it in on the bottom it should be replaced immediately, get it fixed before the trip. They are easy to replace but you'll need to drop the strut out so that you can opperate on the spindle. Remove the bearing bolts and beat it out with a big hammer towards the inside of the spindle. You can draw the new bearing hub back in with the bearing bolts. Everything is metric. I hope you have the necessary 1/2 inch metric sockets and a nasty long 16'' half inch wratchet to break everything loose.
2007-08-23 20:17:23 · answer #2 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is a bearing you don't want to drive anywhere. If it is a bearing all you need do is look on the inside of your tire. If there is oil on it you have an oil seal leaking which always happens with a failed bearing. Jack it up, pull the suspect wheel and check the brake mechanism. If drum brakes pull the drum and inspect. It really doesn't sound like a bearing.
2007-08-23 19:52:39 · answer #3 · answered by tronary 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
36,000 and you might have a bad wheel bearing wow.
There are two other ways also to tell. Number one when you drive say 45 plus do you notice like a train sound. Number two start you car get out put you hand on the bumper do you feel a vibration.
You do not say how far you are driving and how much you are going to be on the road. So i am not sure what to tell you to do.
If you do have a bad one and when you have it done. May i suggest doing the other one also.
2007-08-23 19:32:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the bearing is worn enough to notice, it's about to fail.
2007-08-23 19:35:09 · answer #5 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋