Topic: wheel bearings

[BLACKDOG]

what are the consequences of them going bad, and what are the indicators?  I think one of mine might be going out, but i am not sure

[FIREBALL]

First jack up the front end. If you grab the top of the tire and the bottom and push pull, and you feel movement, and a little clunk clunk, then they're loose or bad. There shouldn't be any play when you do that test. The other thing you can do is take the tire off and turn the rotor/hub by hand. It should turn smooth. It may be a little tough to turn, but not too much. But if you feel any grabby spots, then that probably means you got probs too.
If you are still in doubt, pull it apart, inspect them, if they look good make sure they are well greased and put it back togeather.
If they go bad, they can cause the wheel to lock or bind up in worst case, or cause strange wobbly handling, vibrations etc. in best case.
If it gets too hot and does sieze, A-really quick right or left hand turn=very bad, and B-it can weld the race to the spindle=very hard to get off.

[BLACKDOG [OP]]

Thanks fireball.    The one I think is going bad is on the rear drivers side though, same testing procedure??

[FIREBALL]

Oh,    no, not really the same test. Rears a bit harder. I'd try pulling in and out (and i'm not getting fresh here either) and see if there's play that way. Rears don't go out often, but if it's got a lot of miles, or it was run low on gear oil for awhile, then it could be bad. Also a bent housing will cause early death. They are more involved in changing too. They have to be pressed on and off.
Any way you are able to wiggle the rear tire you should not be able to feal any play. A bad bearing is about the only thing that will cause play like that in the rear.
Good luck

[Hyena]

Both my rear bearing were bad a couple months ago.  I put my truck on a lift to do some maintanence and found out both my rear tires moved.  The lug nuts were tight.  I put new bearings in the rear axle and it doesn't move anymore.

[mr4x42u]

usally you can just jack up the rear of the truck and wiggle the tire in an up and down motion..It gets into over a hundred bucks to change both of them,,the bearings are about 45 each and seals,,another 10-15,,,,

[BLACKDOG [OP]]

noo no more $$ into maintenance please, i want to make soe mods    

[mr4x42u]

noo no more $$ into maintenance please, i want to make soe mods    

There is light at the end of you tunnel,,Asweet reliable toy

[BLACKDOG [OP]]

yeah, i know
its just thepain of putting it in
i'll do that test tommorow mabye

[mr4x42u]

if you don't have a press you might get away with using wood and smacking the axle down on the ground,,I've gotten them off like that before,,just don't mess up your splines..

[BLACKDOG [OP]]

I dunno if i like that idea