Wheel Bearing or???? Help Please

[tblake]

Hey guys, Recently did a bunch of front suspension work. I replaced the lower controll arms, stabilizer bar and strut mounts & Bearings. I also replaced the struts and tie rod ends last fall. All of these parts are quality AC Delco parts.

Now, a week or so after all the work was done, I went around a 35mph curve at about 40mph, and when I straightened out the wheels once I got through it, there was some trash in the middle of the road, so I used the brakse a little hard to not hit the trash. Car was handeling great, then when I let off the brakes, it was making a loud bearing growl noise. Thinking a bolt came loose, I pulled over, checked it out, and nothing was out of the ordinary. When I got in to turn around and take it home, no more noise.

Week or so later (last night) went out for dinner, car was just fine, when we left the resturaunt, same clunk clink clunk clunk bearing growl as before. So we stopped in the O'reilley parking lot and I once again climbed under to check things out. Nothing loose or out of the ordinary. Decided to jump in and take it home. When we left, no more noise. however on the way home going 60mph when I would swerve right no noise, swerve left I heard a little wump wump wump wump wump wheel bearing sort of noise.
Got home, dark, parked it.

Today, left for work at 8am. No noise at all, nothing. Not even when I swerve around going 60+mph. Then I got within 3 blocks of my work and I took a sharp right turn going 30mph. All of a sudden, same loud growling noise. Continued through three stop signs, made a right turn, left turn, and right turn, parked. When I left work, No more noise at all.

When on the way home, I noticed the steering wheel was vibrating like crazy almost like a tie rod end was loose. Then I would go around a curve and it would be just fine. Its an odd problem.

I guess I would like some ideas as to what I should check. I have a feeling a wheel bearing is coming apart however there are no ABS lights on or anything.

Could a bad wheel bearing cause a steering wheel vibration? Could it be fine one second and not the next?

At a loss here guys, any suggestions?

Also Bob, whats the smallest size pulley I should be safe running? I have ported t-body, zzp 2.5" bolt in DP, autolite 605's, DHP PCM. I currently have a 3.5", should I get a modular system? Is it worth the extra cost to just drop to a 3.4"? I would really not want to sacrafice my motor.

Thanks!

[troy1]

have you jacked both sides up and did a wiggle check yet? that would be your best bet.

[tblake]

Yeah, I've done everything but that. Guess I better give it a shot huh? Thanks for the reply.

I dont know guys..... This car.....

[BNaylor]

Tim, do you still have the original hubs or were they replaced in the past? It sure sounds like a wheel bearing acting up to me.

[tblake]

HA HA, yeah, all four are original. Guess its time isnt it? Bad thing is, they arent acting up right now so I cant diagnose what one is going bad.

[BNaylor]

Most likely the front so start there and replace both front hubs. It is a basic rule of thumb anyways. Do them in pairs. At least I did.

[tblake]

Sounds good! I'll give it a shot and report back. Thanks guys!

[tblake]

Hey Guys, by doing the wiggle test I found out that it was the drivers side front causing the trouble.

Bob I know you are going to be mad at me, but right now I think I can only afford to do one. I might do the other side with my next paycheck.

But anyways, removed the old one today (which came off suprisingly well) but have one very important question. All the wheel bearings I have replaced had a washer between the axel nut and the wheel hub. When I removed the axel nut, expecting to have to remove a washer, I was suprized to find that there wasnt one. So I just went ahead and put the new wheel bearing on and torqued everything down.

Arent these supposed to have washers between the axel nut and wheel hub? If so, rich or bob, could one of you guys get me the part number? Maybe this is why the bearing was acting up in the first place.... (some idiot didnt re-install the washer)

Any info is greatly appreciated.....

Thanks!

BTW, I used the BCA Premium Hud from O'reilley's for $130.00.

[BNaylor]

For around $20.00 more you could have used the AC Delco brand. They come with a new axle nut and new hub to spindle bolts. I do not recall a separate washer like wheel bearings of the past. The washer may appear to be integrated into the axle nut.

What torque figure did you use?

Replacing both hubs or in pairs is just a recommendation. Do what you have to based on your funds.

[tblake]

ahhh crap! the dealer in town wanted 220.00 for one, so I figured I would just buy the premium one from o'reilley's

159 ft lbs on the axel nut.

Thanks for the info on the washer Bob!

[beetlebz]

Tblake, I just today changed both of my front wheel bearings. Just so you know the axle nut had kinda like a cross between an integrated washer and a flare on the nut itself. No washers

[tblake]

thank you!

[richtazz]

Some aftermarket hubs put a washer in the box to get the axle nut out on new clean threads so you get a proper torque reading.

[BNaylor]

I don't recall any washer included with a BCA National hub assembly.

The bottom line is there is no washer and if used the torque specs would be different at least from the GM factory specs. The worse axle nuts I've seen are the old GM PAC style nuts with the integrated washer. GM canned those. Some torque figures were a ridiculous 280 lb-ft on those.

I've noticed a lot of hub makers no longer have data sheets specifying a recommended torque value so many owners are using the GM factory specs. The only one that I know of that recommends the GM torque specs by default is the SKS aftermarket brand.

Hopefully the 159 lb-ft you used Tim should be OK.

I forgot to mention technically the GM specs are with a new axle nut not old or used.

[tblake]

yeah you guys are right, nothing included with the hub/bearing but the hub itself, no instructions or extra bolts or nut.

Thats ok. I'll just go easy on it for a while and see what happens. worse comes to worse its got a 1yr replacement warrenty.

Thanks for the info guys, wish I could afforded to buy two new GM ones, but after all that front end work and bills every month..... well you guys know

Only about 1000 more and the GTP is 100% mine! Should have it within a couple months!