SoMeKiD
Probationary Member
- 21
- 0
- Feb 19, 2003
My rear drivers side brakes have been making squeaky noises, and they started to evolve into a creaking\groaning noise unless the brakes are applied very firmly. I lifed the back of the car w/a jack and checked out the brakes and everything seemed fine. I checked for play in the hub, and when I moved wheel studs\ the axle would move inside of the hub (I could see the axle cup moving on the other side). It had around 4 degrees of play total I would say.
I had replaced my front wheel bearings a month ago, and figured it may be time for this one to be replaced as well (the front wheel had play in it too, though a little more). I got new bearings + seal and began the repalcement process. when I pulled the cup from the stubby axel, I looked at the stubby axle and pushed it with my hand (the threaded end). The axel just fell right out of the other side. I was pretty suprised, since i thought it should have been much harder to push out.
The outer bearing had a little bit of grindiness, and what seemed like some play in it as well. this made sense because it (the axle) seemed to pivot around the smaller, inside bearing. I put in the outer bearing, and the inner bearing, and the axle just slid right in. Again, I was suprised. I tightened the assembly (the cup and axle nut), and tried to wiggle the axle again. The same thing happened, there was about the exact same amount of play in the axle as was before.
I was pretty bugged, but just put everything back on the car. The brake noises stopped, but I still have play in my wheel. I haven't checked the other rear wheel for the same kind of play. My rear tire is worn more on the inside than anywhere else, which makes sense, seeing how the wheel is rotating around that area (where the inner bearing is).
This is my question. When I was looking for bearings, a lot of stores (i.e. NAPA, autozone, checker, pep boys) had a "hub assembly" which was close to $100. Does anyone know what that includes? Is that the hub + bearings + axle? I'm pretty sure that my axle is somehow a smaller diameter than it was originally, which is why it isn't fitting snugly inside the of outer wheel bearing. Both bearings fit inside the hub very tightly.
I had replaced my front wheel bearings a month ago, and figured it may be time for this one to be replaced as well (the front wheel had play in it too, though a little more). I got new bearings + seal and began the repalcement process. when I pulled the cup from the stubby axel, I looked at the stubby axle and pushed it with my hand (the threaded end). The axel just fell right out of the other side. I was pretty suprised, since i thought it should have been much harder to push out.
The outer bearing had a little bit of grindiness, and what seemed like some play in it as well. this made sense because it (the axle) seemed to pivot around the smaller, inside bearing. I put in the outer bearing, and the inner bearing, and the axle just slid right in. Again, I was suprised. I tightened the assembly (the cup and axle nut), and tried to wiggle the axle again. The same thing happened, there was about the exact same amount of play in the axle as was before.
I was pretty bugged, but just put everything back on the car. The brake noises stopped, but I still have play in my wheel. I haven't checked the other rear wheel for the same kind of play. My rear tire is worn more on the inside than anywhere else, which makes sense, seeing how the wheel is rotating around that area (where the inner bearing is).
This is my question. When I was looking for bearings, a lot of stores (i.e. NAPA, autozone, checker, pep boys) had a "hub assembly" which was close to $100. Does anyone know what that includes? Is that the hub + bearings + axle? I'm pretty sure that my axle is somehow a smaller diameter than it was originally, which is why it isn't fitting snugly inside the of outer wheel bearing. Both bearings fit inside the hub very tightly.
