diagnose wheel bearing

1993 Corolla LE 7A-FE about 300,000 km (186,300 mi)

Front wheel bearing

It sounds like I may have a front wheel bearing worn out. Is there any
definitive diagnosis?

I can't hear anything grinding when I jack up the car and spin the wheel.
These bearings are friction-fit and I would like to avoid letting it go too
long and damaging the hub. The left bearing has already been replaced.

A passenger reports feeling vibration from the right front wheel. One day I
heard an intermittent milling sound which was interrupted by curving. I
don't hear this most days.

Your expert opinion is invited.

- Jack

"Ralph" <nospam@thanks.com> wrote in message
news:45809f95_2@news.cybersurf.net...[color=blue]
> 1993 Corolla LE 7A-FE about 300,000 km (186,300 mi)
>
> Front wheel bearing
>
> It sounds like I may have a front wheel bearing worn out. Is there any
> definitive diagnosis?
>
> I can't hear anything grinding when I jack up the car and spin the wheel.
> These bearings are friction-fit and I would like to avoid letting it go
> too long and damaging the hub. The left bearing has already been
> replaced.
>
> A passenger reports feeling vibration from the right front wheel. One day
> I heard an intermittent milling sound which was interrupted by curving. I
> don't hear this most days.
>
> Your expert opinion is invited.
>
> - Jack[/color]

It is difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose a sound without actually
hearing the sound. If the noise changes with road speed and increases in
frequency or amplitude when making a left turn, the right wheel bearing
should be checked. Unfortunately, you have to remove the bearing and look
at its condition to determine whether it is bad or not.

Other possible sources of rotational noises are brakes, CV joints, and
differential bearings.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Thanks again Ray O!

- Jack

Ralph wrote:[color=blue]
> It sounds like I may have a front wheel bearing worn out. Is there any
> definitive diagnosis?[/color]
=========
The Factory Service Manual has a specification to check wheel bearing
end play.
It is in the section on brakes, near the part about using a dial
indicator to check disk rotor runout.
See:

Ralph wrote:[color=blue]
> It sounds like I may have a front wheel bearing worn out. Is there any
> definitive diagnosis?[/color]
=========
The Factory Service Manual has a specification to check wheel bearing
end play.
It is in the section on brakes, near the part about using a dial
indicator to check disk rotor runout.

On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:49:22 -0500, "Ralph" <nospam@thanks.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>1993 Corolla LE 7A-FE about 300,000 km (186,300 mi)
>
>Front wheel bearing
>
>It sounds like I may have a front wheel bearing worn out. Is there any
>definitive diagnosis?[/color]

I just had my front bearings done. It sounded like a growling or
rumbling noise at 40/50+ mph, so I'm not certain you'd hear anything
from spinning the wheel by hand.

"Ralph" <nospam@thanks.com> wrote in message
news:45815422$1_2@news.cybersurf.net...[color=blue]
> Thanks again Ray O!
>
> - Jack[/color]
You're welcome!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

you might jack it up and try to wiggle the wheel, top to bottom.
if there's any difference from the other side (which shouldn't have
ANYplay),
then you need a wheel bearing.
good luck, sammm


--

<nospampls2002@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1166106549.532305.123890@j72g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Ralph wrote:[color=green]
>> It sounds like I may have a front wheel bearing worn out. Is there any
>> definitive diagnosis?[/color]
> =========
> The Factory Service Manual has a specification to check wheel bearing
> end play.
> It is in the section on brakes, near the part about using a dial
> indicator to check disk rotor runout.
> See:
>[/color]