Front Wheel Bearings

[HDChuck01]

Hi All, I've been reading through the posts about wheel bearings and haven't really found an answer so I hope I didnt miss it. Anyway, I lifted the front of my truck and checked for play (top and bottom of tire) and it was solid, no movement so does that mean the bearings are OK?? I have a loud roar when driving which I was thinking was tire noise but not sure. It is pretty loud and just a constant roar. Is there another way to check the bearings? I replaced them on my Blazer when I had the same type of noise and that fixed it, but I don't want to do it unless I know for sure. This is for my 2007 1500 NBS 37K miles.

[441G]

that is how we check ours - jack up front grab top of tire and try to push it back and forth - if yours is not moving the hubs are more than likely ok

[mhenshaw]

Did you have it aligned after the lift? Have you rotated you tires in awhile? Are they stock tires? All these would make the tires louder than normal.

[jblakeney]

Dunno about your truck but this a bearing failure..... GMT-800 3/4 ton I think it was.... Tire came off.

 

I heard it was one wild ride too. The wheel came off. On the interstate.

 

Jbo

[az'03Silverado]

Dunno about your truck but this a bearing failure..... GMT-800 3/4 ton I think it was.... Tire came off.

 

I heard it was one wild ride too. The wheel came off. On the interstate.

 

Jbo

 

"It fell off. If fell OFF! It fell the **** OFF! Turning my van into a tripod. Spinnin' me into a dimension of pissed off I'd never seen in my life."---Ron White

[jblakeney]

"It fell off. If fell OFF! It fell the **** OFF! Turning my van into a tripod. Spinnin' me into a dimension of pissed off I'd never seen in my life."---Ron White

 

HAHAHA........ I saw one come off a car on the interstate going the other direction from me. The tire ran across the median and hit the hood of the car in front of me. I nearly poo-ed on my self. It hit the car in front of me and went flying into the trees......

 

The car that lost the wheel never let up....... I wonder how long they made it before the let out of the gas and had an experience that would be truly FREEING weird.

 

I stop and talked to the guy that got hit by the tire... His question was WHERE did that come from? I could not stop laughing so I quickly returned to my truck and left.

 

Jbo

[joe04]

I watched a mechanic put my truck on a lift, then spun the front wheel while holding his hand on the upper control arm. Amazing how the chatter followed right through. Just another suggestion for checking.

[tanked_darren]

Hi All, I've been reading through the posts about wheel bearings and haven't really found an answer so I hope I didnt miss it. Anyway, I lifted the front of my truck and checked for play (top and bottom of tire) and it was solid, no movement so does that mean the bearings are OK?? I have a loud roar when driving which I was thinking was tire noise but not sure. It is pretty loud and just a constant roar. Is there another way to check the bearings? I replaced them on my Blazer when I had the same type of noise and that fixed it, but I don't want to do it unless I know for sure. This is for my 2007 1500 NBS 37K miles.

 

Are you sure the roar is coming from the front? Drive down the road slow enough to have someone listen to each wheel.

[Wires]

I watched a mechanic put my truck on a lift, then spun the front wheel while holding his hand on the upper control arm. Amazing how the chatter followed right through. Just another suggestion for checking.

 

 

+1 good idea. I've just did spinning the wheel as well. If the bearings are bad, you tend to hear a "roar" (quiet mind you) when they are starting to go. When they are really gone, then you'll get flop when you grab the top and bottom of the tire and try to wiggle the tire.

 

But grabbing the arm would be a great diagnositc. I'll have to put that upstairs in the old grey computer.

[HDChuck01]

Did you have it aligned after the lift? Have you rotated you tires in awhile? Are they stock tires? All these would make the tires louder than normal.

No lift on my truck. Completely stock. No rotation, stock tires. I wonder, does everyone experience this noise with stock tires / worn tires??

[HDChuck01]

I watched a mechanic put my truck on a lift, then spun the front wheel while holding his hand on the upper control arm. Amazing how the chatter followed right through. Just another suggestion for checking.

I'll give this a try too.

[Doug_Scott]

A noisy wheel bearing will not always have play in it. Generally if you drive down the road and turn the steering wheel about eighth of a turn from side to side you will notice the sound changes depending on the direction you have turned. This is loading the bearing and will change the sound if the bearing is making the noise.