wheel making grinding noise

Hello everyone,
I have an 02 explorer and just recently the rear driver side wheel has started to make noise. It started off seldom and quiet, and thought it could be the bearing. but then it started to get really bad and all the time and the grinding seemed to get worse. you can tell its the wheel because its making a rotating noise if you know what i mean. today when i was pulling out of my driveway i hit the brakes and that wheel totally locked up and slid (gravel driveway) i then put it in reverse and backed it up and there it sits. im not driving it today :nono:

Thanks for all the help.
Jason

Sounds like a wheel bearing, we've seen problems with them in the shop, not any locking up but I wouldn't doubt it. However, I would not rule out brakes altogether. Good luck with it.

does everyone else think this could be the problem? how much does it usually cost for a new bearing including installation?

If 4 wheel disc brakes, you have an emergency drum brake on the rear side of rotor. Brake could be adjusted too high or you could have a rock or something inside the drum.

if u have rear disc you could have collapsed a caliper. But other then that the bearing is a good bet.

Sounds like my 03 4X4. It was the rear bearings. Mines was covered by 3/36 warranty. It seems to me from what I can figured that there's probably 3 hours of labor plus parts (ie. seals, bearings, lube and modifier).