Bad wheel bearing--which side?

Oh Haha · 07-29-2014, 03:17 PM

Vehicle-2007 Chevy Equinox
Miles-124000
AWD

This weekend I noticed a hum in the front end. It SEEMS to be coming from the DS but I can't pinpoint it.

I did replace the PS a few years so that helps with the diagnosis.

Do any of you know a good way to confirm which side is the culprit? I tried the low speed turn test but the noise doesn't go away enough.

Thanks,

WolfeMacleod · 07-29-2014, 03:23 PM

Turn right. Turn left.

When turning, which direction makes it go away? If you turn right and the noise is reduced, chances are, it's on the left.

That's how I've awlays figured it out.

Woops, you already said that.. comprehension, I guess.

Lift the car, turn wheels by hand? Which one makes noise?

stomachmonkey · 07-29-2014, 03:55 PM

Jack up the front.

Grab a wheel top and bottom.

Rock it and look for slack, play.

1990C4S · 07-29-2014, 04:45 PM

Or spin it. They often sound bad even when just spun by hand...

Jolly Amaranto · 07-29-2014, 05:10 PM

Usually when one wheel goes, the other is not far behind. Been burned before when I only replaced the bad one and not both.

john70t · 07-29-2014, 05:38 PM

Drive on the highway.
Pull over slow.
Put the back of your hand on the hub center, or use an infrared thermometer.
Hot=bad.

fastfredracing · 07-29-2014, 06:09 PM

Jack it up, get a good grip on the spindle/upright, and spin the wheel. You will be able to feel the vibration/roughness in the bad bearing. Compare it to the other side, and it will become 100% obvious which one is bad.
This method has never failed me
When you are driving, it is usually the side opposite of the direction you are steering that is bad when you hear or feel the noise. Usually the side that has the vehicles weight loaded onto it . This method sometimes fools me however.
Good luck.

onewhippedpuppy · 07-30-2014, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Jack it up, get a good grip on the spindle/upright, and spin the wheel. You will be able to feel the vibration/roughness in the bad bearing. Compare it to the other side, and it will become 100% obvious which one is bad.
This method has never failed me
When you are driving, it is usually the side opposite of the direction you are steering that is bad when you hear or feel the noise. Usually the side that has the vehicles weight loaded onto it . This method sometimes fools me however.
Good luck.

Ditto. I've also had my wife slowly drive past me in a parking lot on either side, it's usually pretty easy to pinpoint the sound from the outside of the car.

gordner · gordner's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t

Drive on the highway.
Pull over slow.
Put the back of your hand on the hub center, or use an infrared thermometer.
Hot=bad.

This is a pretty fool proof way to know for sure, a bad bearing makes for a very hot hub

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Had one fail on the Mercedes recently. Not fun. They get HOT before they fail (mine was badly discolored / blued and the grease was scorched badly). I suspect the IR thermometer method would be a good test without pulling the caps off and looking at things.

yetibone · 07-30-2014, 03:52 PM

I luv mah Chassis Ear!

Oh Haha · 07-30-2014, 05:19 PM

Thanks guys.

I did the tests you suggested and it seems to be the DS as suspected. I'll get a new one and take care of business this weekend. I hate this vehicle but our plans don't have me getting anything new anytime soon.

pavulon · 07-30-2014, 06:23 PM

If this is a hub bearing assembly that has been exposed to salted roads, consider having to take the upright off the car in order to accomplish replacement. I had to do that on the floor of my garage this past winter and it sucked...a lot.

Oracle · 07-30-2014, 06:52 PM

Here's some help:

and this:

Oh Haha · 07-31-2014, 03:00 AM

Thanks for the videos Oracle.

The one with the tire/wheel assembly is incredible. Mine is no where as bad as either one.

island911 · 07-31-2014, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordner

This is a pretty fool proof way to know for sure, a bad bearing makes for a very hot hub

But it has to be really bad. Bearings become noisy long before they become big heat producers. Then again, most people ignore the subtle noises from back there, over the last 20k, until it's annoyingly loud. --so this may be a good solution for many.

I know on my SC that it had a tick with each rev - but I could hear it only on new blacktop. Turned out to be a 2mm long 'scratch' in one of the two bearing races. --yeah, that's not going to make measurable heat, even tho' it was a failed bearing.

Oh Haha · 08-01-2014, 05:48 PM

GRRRRRRRRRRRR

I started the job tonight after dinner. I had the assembly off and on my bench in about an hour. I didn't feel like trying to get the old hub out while attached to the strut.

A little heat, a few blasts of PB Blaster PB and it came right out. I mounted the new hub and torqued the mounting bolts.

Went to put it back together and the splines on the axle are too big for the hub.

Sonofab........

They must have sold me the wrong assembly although I watched the guy pull it up on his computer.

Back tomorrow and get the right part. Finishing the job won't take too long after that.

I could have had this done tonight!!

Oh Haha · 08-02-2014, 12:08 PM

Well, apparently the mid year change was the reason for the wrong part.

Whilst under the vehicle I noticed the driveshaft center bearing carrier was absolutely gone.

I checked my service manual and set out to replace it. What a total PIA!! I gave up after abour an hour of fighting with the ujoints(clip type).

I ended up taking the driveshaft to my local Tuffy and one the guys did the carrier replacement for me. You have to press the old one off and the new on.

I gave him $20 and a box of donut holes for taking time out of his day for me. The cool thing was he let me help and showed me some cool tricks to getting stuck ujoints apart. Re installed the driveshaft and it's done.

Now, I can wash the 911 and take it out for a drive.