Wheel Bearing

[GaryFenza]

I seem to have alot of "play" in the wheel when its jacked up and you rock it back and forth. Is it supposed to be like this or is it an unfortiante sign of a wheel bearing going bad. The Car also puts out a squek when driving and im not even tapping the break pedal. Im guess its the wheel bearing, but i wanted some other opinions. Thanks

[OJ_]

Originally Posted by GaryFenza

I seem to have alot of "play" in the wheel when its jacked up and you rock it back and forth. Is it supposed to be like this or is it an unfortiante sign of a wheel bearing going bad.

I have seen this issue described the same way as your describing it. There should not be a lot of play if any at all. That is definately a problem. Hopefully someone here with a lot of experience can tell you what it is. IMO it is the wheel bearing, at least that is what it was during other posts I have seen in other forums.

I would definately research this in order to find out what you need to do to fix it. Nothing beats an experts opinion on it, have any buddies who can look at it for you?

[GaryFenza]

I do auto Body work with my grandfathers business, so i deff know my way around cars, but im not very familiar with Grand Prix Suspension/brakes/rotars/wheels and the wheel bearing, so.....yea i do kinda need a experts opinion on this.

[richtazz]

IF there is freeplay at all positions, it's a hub bearing. Put your hands at different clock positions (9-3, 12-6, 10-4, 8-2, etc...), and if it moves everywhere, it's a hub. If it only moves at 9-3, it could be a tie rod end, and if only at 12-6, it could be a ball joint. Another tell-tale sign of a bad hub is the trac-off and ABS lights will come on (as the wheel speed sensor is contained in the hub bearing).

[BNaylor]

The most prevalent telltale sign of a bad hub/bearing is the noise. Most likely will sound like an airplane is on top of you. The sound may vary as you turn right or left into a curve.

The best way to tell if the bearings are worn is via an alignment check at an alignment shop or running a dial gauge with the wheel removed and the disc rotor locked down. You tug on the rotor in and out to check for bearing wear at various o'clock positions. However, the specified tolerance on Grand Prix wheel bearings is tight per the GM FSM. Alot of times the wheel pull test may reveal nothing. Especially at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions due to inner and outer tie rod slop and the play in the steering.