what happens when the wheel / hub bearing goes out?

[jjsacidy]

i have some drivetrain noise, like a whine. and now my steering wheel shakes back and forth. is that what a bad hub bearing can do? otherwise what should i do about that steering wheel? when im going slow or fast it does it, and shakes harder and quicker the faster i go.

 

[Staytuned]

Try swerving a little left to right in your lane and see if the noise increases and decreases as you swerve...you'll know it's a wheel bearing then. If not look to an axle maybe.

 

[jjsacidy]

what would be wrong with the axel? then wouldnt it click during turns? would the wheel wobble at all if i jacked the car up or not? this cars never gonna be good.

 

[jbillakdsm]

Your axles don't have to click when you turn to be going bad. Mine are on their way out and they've never clicked when I turned. If it's your wheel bearing when you lift that side off the ground, you can push on your wheel and it will wobble back and forth a little. My suggestion is to just get a new axle and replace the whole thing. Most kits give you the new wheel bearing when you get the axle and it's something that needs done on these cars when they get old anyhow. $60 for a new axle assembly is a much better deal than 35 for the bearing and still ahving an old axle.

 

[jjsacidy]

k jacked that thing up and found a tie rod that came loose. i didnt tighten the nut enough cuz the stud would spin. anyways got that taken care of and now it doesnt wobble at all. i also put the interior back together and surprise surprise, the noise is a lot quieter now. it was prob always there and i didnt hear it until i took that crap apart. would a couple pieces around the console quiet an axel that much, or maybe transfer case noise? now its not bad at all.