Diagnosing Bad Wheel Bearings?

[Spit]

I have a 97 Grand Caravan...I was experiencing excessive vibration of the steering wheel at high speed and a rocking of the steering wheel @ lower speeds. I would also feel some pulsation of the brake pedal when braking. A shop that I took it to told me I had 2 bad outer tie rod ends, and a bad driver's side wheel hub, and I should change both front tires for $850.

I got the parts myself and changed them...it made a huge improvement. but I am still experiencing some of the same symptons...but much less severe. I still have some vibration and some pulsation of the brake pedal.

I am wondering how to diagnose wheel hubs I only changed the driver's side front, I aam wondering if the passenger side is bad too. I never heard any howling grinding etc. from the driver's side...and I don't hear anything now. I re-did the front bakes not too long ago and the pads and rotors look great. I did the rears 50K ago and I did not turn the drums just changed the pads & hardware.

So I guess I would like your input on how to identify wheel hub problems and brake problems

Spit

[b1lk1]

Pulsation = brake rotors out of round. Possible the rears are the cause as well. Need special tools to check which part is out of round.

Vibration = tires out of round/worn/improperly balanced.

[dj1111]

Yep b1lk1 it's brake rotors and/or wheel balance issues.

I learned a long time ago one way to test wheel bearings is to lift the vehicle off the ground. With the wheels free to spin, spin the wheel while lightly holding the coil spring. If the bearings are bad you will feel vibration in the spring. I just used this on my Saturn drivers side and sure enough the bearings were cooked. The same test on the passenger side was smooth as glass, bearings were ok there.