wheel bearing issue

OK, so I was hoping it was just my damn tire wasn't balanced(and it wasn't), but from potholes, a bad curb-hoping experience, and driving with a messed up rim and 300+ miles on a spare I managed to screw up my wheel bearings as well. I took it to a mechanic I trust and he fixed the tire, but the vibration is most likely coming from the wheel bearing as well...not what I was hoping to hear. So I'm gonna do my research today, but any info on this would be greatly appreciated. He said it isn't urgent now, but something to think about down the road. But I don't want more damage down the road, so I'll probably do it pretty soon. So any info/advice/help would be great. Thanks, Geoff

Also, if anyone remembers me complaining about a feeling of lost power...well I definantly feel like I got it back today. My clutch feels like it has a bit more resistance to it, so I have a feeling the mechanic tightened it up a bit, between that and balancing the tire it was pulling like a champ. I just took her out for a nice 20 min drive. (I was so happy it was pulling right, that I probably looked like a bat outta hell) Wasted a 1/4 tank, but it was so worth it.

If the bearings go then you'll have some serious wobble in the tires. If its serious enough it may break off completely which could cause untold damage (to you as well as the car).

My Dodge Shadow had a problem like that a few years ago. An easy sign if its the bearings is to just push on the top of the tire. If it moves without the car being shook - you have shot bearings.

Yeah I tried that test when I was at the mechanics, and no movement, they seemed fine, then I just cruised around for awhile, and had no vibration (at least no audible vibration) the balancing of the tire seemed to fix the problem completely, which is what I had thought.
So I don't know, he says it sounds a bit like the bearings that are vibrating, but I don't know if he drove it before or after balancing the tire, because when I drove it, I didn't hear anything. He is very competant, and I trust him, but I'm thinking he may just have said something to be on the cautious side of things. He even said that they weren't in need or replacement right now, but he said if I wanted him to dig into it, to give him a call back later. So I don't know, but I'm not too concerned with it now, if a problem develops, then I'll definantly need a bit more help from you guys.

is the vibration when you turn at high speeds or just all the time?

It isn't when I turn, just when I'm driving. Normally it (did) become perfectly audible between 40mph and 80mph. Before that, and after that, the road noise is louder than the vibration. But I knew it was the unbalanced tire (at least in part) because it started 2 seconds after I had some shady guy mount the tire for me. (shop tried to charge me $35 to mount and balance the tire, so I laughed at them and walked out, one of the workers caught me as I was leaving and told me he'd do it for $15). Of course when I got home, the damn thing wasn't balanced right. If the bearings are damaged(which I don't think they are right now) it would be from driving on the unbalanced tire so long, driving with a spare for 300+miles, or hoping that curb at 70 avoiding that damn cat. All those events have reeked havoc on that wheel/area, but it seems ok for now

hope it doesn't become a pain for you. good luck with that.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but you can tell if it's wheel bearing by the heat (by compairing,the temp of each wheel after a drive, test with your hand) Tire wear will create heat also, along with braking, but a bearing will burn your hand. Noise is your next sign, by then you might have to replace the spindle. Call a shop to get r&r prices. This was not that costly if you act soon, the heat is the killer.

I just recently had the bearings replaced in my 3000. I had the same issues, final straw was driving down the road and I thought the dang tire was gonna come off the car!