Wheel Bearing signs - long trip ahead

[brian.taylor]

I put my 92 Camry in the shop to get some work done (CV half-shafts, stabilizer bar bushing, right control arm bushing). My mechanic said it was going to need the driver's side wheel bearing, but that we could wait because it wasn't making any noise.

Here's my question: I'm going to be going on a trip about 350 miles each way early next week, what are some of the signs of wheel bearing failure? The car is completely silent, so strange squeak, grind or bump noises anywhere - and it steers fine...should I be worried about taking it on this trip?

[toyomoho]

Usually a bearing will make noise as it fails. Some call it a growl that increases with speed. You can usually make the noise louder by turning the car, shifting rapidly from one lane to another.

The mechanic would need to have either felt some play in the bearing or inspected the hub runout with a indicator gauge. Kind of strange the mechanic made that statement, if it was bad enough to feel play, why wait for the noise. After all, the front end was almost all the way apart.

Bearings seldom fail without giving some kind of indication, usually this is noise. Even then it can take 1000's of miles (and much more) for the bearing to get to the point that it must be changed. I would not worry about it, but if you are. Jack up the wheel that has the problem bearing, grab the front and back of the tire and push/pull. Do the same to the other wheel and compare notes. Remember, the steering system will have some slack in it.

Also do a TN search on wheel bearings, there should a lot of hits on such things as noise, wheel play, etc.

[ghettosled]

it should be fine, but its weired the way your mechanic mentioned it. because with already replacing the axles, the bearing just has to be unbolted. now when you get them replaced down the road, everything has to be removed again.

if it was me, i would drive it until it got loud and the noise was too much to take.