Hi, does anyone know if the front bearings ( maybe the needle bearings) can be checked without taking the whole assembly apart? I jacked up the front right side 2 inches and when I turn the tire in a forward roll ,the universal does not move for 1 inch of the tire roll . Could that be the wheel bearings? The truck has a "rumble strip" vibration on the front right side when doing 40 mph and up. Thanks Lou

 

Try Guzzles page for ideas.
Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Needle Bearing Maintenance Web Page

 

Rumble strip vibration when you put it that way it makes me think of how my truck felt.
I unhooked the sway bar and found the symptom went away. I was thinking bearings [ mine are original] as well but, it turned out changing the sway bar end links and bushings corrected the problem for my truck.
Hope its that easy in your case.

 

Sounds like bearings to me, especially if they haven't seen service for awhile. You didn't say, but my previous owner had forgot to replace the "yellow O-ring" and they failed. Actually they fell out when I inspected them. So it's def. worth the effort to service/replace. Cheers


"An eye for an eye, means everyone would be blind"

 

Thank you for your responses, I brought it to the shop and the guy said the front axle was shot and was gonna start serious issues with the transfer case, but I got it in time,thank God.