Do ball bearings really need to be replaced A.S.A.P

[mystickid]

Hey guys,



My ball bearings need to be replaced. Whenever i would reach 80MPH, a loud VHOOMING noise would come from the bearings in one of my rear tires. After alot of highway driving, the sounds starts a 40MPH now.

I took it to the mechanic and he said "Yeah, its the ball bearings."

My dad's telling me that I don't need to fix it till it breaks.

So i wanna know, are the ball bearings one of those parts that need to be repaired as soon as there are signs of rupture or can i wait till thy're broken????

[88 LE]

Replace it A.S.A.P.

Its like a clicking axle. Don't wait till its broken to fix it.

[BLUEMEANIE]

once the bearing goes the pads will start destroying the rotor and the excessive camber angle will wear out the spindle, etc, etc. If you dont replace it asap you end up replacing a lot of other shit in the long run

[xylium]

Not to mention if it gets bad enough, ur wheel could fall off.

[BLUEMEANIE]

^ lol. that too.

[chronoti]

do it's a really easy job i had a shop try and tell me it's not me and my dad did it in a weekend (one day for the new bearing to come in) it's a dual angular contact bearing. you buy it as a hub assembly and it's a realy quick and easy fix.

[mystickid]

Whew!

Thanx for the headz-up guys. Really appreciated.

I'll get to it right away.

[mystickid]

Abit off topic but...


How do I know when i the Steering Wheel fluid needs to be changed??? Any signs.

My steering wheel makes a little squeak when the car is stationary and I turn the wheels.also the steering is getting abit hard.

[situman]

besides the loud vhrooom how else cna you tell whether or not the bearing is going? my car has this vibration starting around 65. I dont feel it much on the steering wheels, but I definitely feel it vibrating a lot from the seats and the entire car.

[BLUEMEANIE]

mystickid - If it squeaks, tighten the belt. If it squeals like its in pain check the fluid level and the belt. The steering fluid res has a dip stick.
I've never actually changed it unless I'm replacing a pump, only added more when its needed. Your owners manual or a Chiltion or Haynes manual will tell you the exact milage.


situman - your wheels are out of balance. Prolly a rear one if you feel it in the seat (you'd feel a front one in the steering wheel)
The easiest way to tell if a bering is going is to remove the wheel and wiggle the hub, if theres play in it your bearing is getting worn.

[fredk]

i love it, dont fix it till it breaks just wait till the wheel falls off and ya get killed, then fix it, we get those cars in the shop all the time, missing wheels , steering wheel on the floor, brake pedal on the floor and front end crunched , missing tierods, just wait

[xylium]

My brother had a bad steel belt in one of his tires. Cause the car to shake like nutz!