Wheel Bearings

[AZ-Z71]

Oh no, not this question.....

 

So how does one exactly know if your bearings are shot, almost shot, ready to go?

 

Here is my scenerio.

 

Went down to the store the other day and after a few stop and goes, the next time I apply the breaks I hear the horrid grinding sound coming from the front end. I know it can't be the breaks because I checked the pads like two weeks ago and they look like new. (I have 107,000 miles on this thing and the breaks still look new) So I check again and the same. Looked the rotor over and no gouging on either side. Did it maybe a few more times and then it quit doing it. I was thinking maybe some road derbi got caught in between the pad and the rotor and maybe fell out. The yester day I make a left turn into the drive way and felt a pop/grind. Went to the store later and made another left into a street and again another little pop grind. This morning I decided to just look around and didn't see anthing out of the norm, except on the outside edge of the front tire it looks like the corner is rubbed/worn kind on like if the tire was under inflated riding on the edge. Also on the edge between the threads, and not all of them, like mabe only half way around the tire there is very fine rubber dust (for a lack of better terms) collecting on the corners of the thread, like if the tires are wearing funny and the wear on the edge is depositing itself in the thread in micro bits.

 

Had the truck over to the shop yesterday morning before I started to notice any of this to have the suspension re-torqued and they told me everything looked fine.

 

Also not sure if it is the bearing or the front differential but you can hear a faint rubbing like if you took two metal disks and rubbed them together. First I was hearing it turning either left or right. Now I seem to hear it constant while driving.

 

Riding into work today seemed to be a little more bumpy than I remembered but it may be I'm looking for something.

 

 

If I find out it is the bearings I could order the parts and work it this weekend.

[snoman]

Did you check the front axle hub "gland" nut for tightness?

[walbern1]

Are you positive it's the front and not the rear? I thought the same things a few months ago and it ended up being my e-brake ( I could've sworn it was the front bearings ). Turns out there is a TSB on it from GM with a replacement clip for the shoe.

[AZ-Z71]

No haven't checked the nut yet. I'll do that ASAP.

 

No this noise is definately coming from the front.

[2001 HD]

Jack the front of the truck up and pull the front wheels of. Run 2 lug nuts down to keep the rotor from floating around, use washers if necessary, and turn the rotor by hand. See if you can hear anything or get excess movement. On the 99+ 2wd, the front wheel bearings are sealed. There is no spindle nut to tighten to remove play. The whole spindle pack has to be replaced. Not sure about 4wd. 105K is a lot of miles on original brakes. You checked the inboard brake pads as well, correct?

 

Then drink 4 beers and post your findings!

 

[RyanbabZ71]

You will hear a nice loud humming noise that gets louder the faster you go and even with the radio on you can hear it

[AZ-Z71]

The 4 wheel drives have an axle nut that hold the rotor on to the half shaft spindle. I had the wheels off about two weeks ago and did that. I could hear something but wasn't sure if it was normal. Sounded like a slight drag but more from the differential than anything.

 

The noise I hear now as I drive is more like to metal disc rubbing together. The pitch does not increase or decrease by going faster or slower, but a constant noise.

 

First started only turning one direction and then another now also as you go forward.

 

Could it be the bearing just starting to go bad? Called the dealer for the replacement, $212.65 per side. Ouch! But hey it includes the bearings and the wheel studs.

[03 GMC]

When my driver's side wheel bearing went bad I had the same noise. Eventually there was a noticeable shimmy in the steering. Jack the truck up and take off the wheel. Grab the lugs, if you can move the hub assembly side to side or up and down then the bearing is bad. You should be able to get a better price from gmpartsdirect but the shipping might outrageous. Good luck.