Truck wheel bearing

F150Mustang · Dec 14, 2008

Hopefully someone can help me out here. I have a wheel bearing going bad on the front end of my 97 F150. It is howling/humming real bad now. I have the new hub/bearing assembly but cant figure out which side is bad. When jacked up both sides turn freely and are tight. After a 200 mile trip the other day the left hub felt slightly warmer the the right one. When i turn sharply left at 50 mph the noise remains but when i turn right it will disappear. Anybody have any advise on what to do to figure it out?? Its a $240 assembly so i kinda want to fix the bad one.

Thanks

lucas boy · Dec 14, 2008

sometimes we raisem up and listen with a stethiscope . many times the bad hub has more play in it.lucas

bradk · Dec 14, 2008

An automotive stethoscope is handy in a case like this(about $25)

Some guys like to diagnose which side it is by swerving from side to side going down road and listening when it goes away,but I've been burned doing it this way.

Put the trruck on 4 jack stands,put in 4wd and have a helper run it at 30-40mph and probe near bearing at knuckle with the stethoscope.Sure-fire diagnosis.

chevdud97 · Dec 14, 2008

When you raise the vehicle your unloading the bearings. That is why you cannot hear it when you raise the truck. Most likely its the left front from your turning experiences.

Walt Davies · Dec 14, 2008

Personally I would bite the dust an replace both sides, it might seem like over kill but down the road it may just save you some time and more money.
Walt

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Dec 14, 2008

That's easy, the right one is the noisy one. The sharp turn to the right unloads the right wheel hence the noise goes away. Don't be surprised if you find the left one makes noise too. The right one could be overshadowing the left one. Put the right one on first.

Fordman6442 · Dec 14, 2008

Why not pull them both. If one is shot replace it and just clean and lube the other one. Chances are thou if 1 is gone the other is just a mile behind.

504-2 · Dec 14, 2008

Right front is bad, if you get it wrong just put the old one on the other side.

greygoat · Dec 15, 2008

They should both have equal wear--if one is
going bad the other will go bad soon. Do both!

bruster · Dec 15, 2008

Is the hub bad??
I've replaced many front bearings on steer axles, and never had a hub go bad. All that had to be done was replace the bearings and races. It would be in your best interests to replace BOTH sides.

F150Mustang · Dec 15, 2008

Thanks for all the replys. I did buy a stethoscope today so i can fix the right one. Im sure the hub is good but they only sell it as an assambly, Napa and my Chiltons manual both say that. I am assuming i will be doing the other shortly. Thanks again.

Truck wheel bearing

F150Mustang

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lucas boy

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bradk

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chevdud97

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Walt Davies

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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Fordman6442

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504-2

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greygoat

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bruster

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F150Mustang

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