If your bearings were that bad the wheel would have fallen off by now. Check your rotors and pads and callipers
Wheel Bearings??
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Clark, NJ
Wheel Bearings??
2000 Explorer XLT 46,000 miles
I just had new front rotors and pads put on within the past few months, so I thought this noise was coming from the pads or rotors. When braking I get a pretty ugly, o.k. seriously ugly sounding "grinding" noise from the front left wheel (though it may have started in the front left now as well). Sometimes under braking the car will also pull to the left. After driving for a while the condition does get worse. I've also had in the past, and still to this day a "rattle" sort of sound from the front left wheel when driving at lower speeds on bumpier pavement. Could these symptoms be my wheel bearings gone bad, or does anyone have any other thoughts? How screwed am I? Thanks in advance for any help!
I just had new front rotors and pads put on within the past few months, so I thought this noise was coming from the pads or rotors. When braking I get a pretty ugly, o.k. seriously ugly sounding "grinding" noise from the front left wheel (though it may have started in the front left now as well). Sometimes under braking the car will also pull to the left. After driving for a while the condition does get worse. I've also had in the past, and still to this day a "rattle" sort of sound from the front left wheel when driving at lower speeds on bumpier pavement. Could these symptoms be my wheel bearings gone bad, or does anyone have any other thoughts? How screwed am I? Thanks in advance for any help!
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 886
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From: Cincinnati
Sounds extreme for a 2000. There is less than 2" between the bearings in the hub. Failures are almost impossible to detect by the wheel wiggle test. Do you notice any uneven tire wear (inside)? One test is to jack up the wheel by the lower "A" arm. If the wheel kicks in when it leaves the pavement, there is a problem.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3
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From: Clark, NJ
Thanks, I thought it was a bit much for a 2000 w/ only 46k miles on it. I haven't done the "wiggle test" because I had heard that it was difficult to detect. I'll check for tire wear and try jacking it up by the A arm. If neither of these efforts indicate anything, do you have any thoughts on the best way to take a look for failure? And any thoughts on what additional damage I might be doing to the vehicle if I have been running around on bad bearings? Thanks for the help.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 886
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From: Cincinnati
As to "How screwed am I? " The day of $12 bearings is over. Average price for just the hub is about $170. That will be over $300 + labor at dealer. You would be unable to drive the vehicle before the wheel came off.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 335
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From: NJ
There is a pretty simple way to tell if you have a caliper hanging up on you. Drive around for a few minutes, then check the temp of the rotors. If there is one that is hotter then the others that is the wheel with the problem.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3
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From: Clark, NJ
I discussed this with a mechanic I know and from what I told him he didn't seem to think it was the bearings either. He seemed to lean more towards the brakes or calipers as well. It's just that I had the wheel off a few weeks back when the noise started getting pretty bad and the pads and rotor looked fine. I was able to spin the rotor as well, without any restriction, so I figured the caliper wasn't seized up. I didn't see any unusual/uneven tire wear. I haven't been able to jack the sucker up to see if the wheel kicked in. It's been a little too chilly! Whatever it is, I need to get it fixed. I just hope I haven't busted a spindle or hub or something. Thanks for the help.
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