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Date:         Thu, 30 Nov 2006 10:42:24 -0500
Reply-To:     John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: wheel bearings
Comments: To: Mark Brush <mbrush@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <b2ac7c9e0611300603t2ed5d307x6dfbe843c25b873e@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

My experience with front wheel bearings is that if you jack up one side of the front end and then spin the tire, if your bearings are good, you'll hear no sound other than the shhhhhh of the brake pads. If your wheel bearings are wearing, then you would hear a rumble noise that's caused by the fact that the bearings are worn and have some wiggle room as the attempt to smoothly rotate the tire about the axle shaft.

It is possible to have just one side go bad, but generally if one side is wearing, the other isn't far behind. If you have to change them, do both sides.

Don't know what your experience with spinning the front wheels is, but it would be normal (or at least not necessarily related to the wheel bearings) if the drag on on the brake rotors was not the same all the way around.

Good Luck

John Graham 88 Westy Charlotte, NC

On 11/30/06, Mark Brush <mbrush@gmail.com> wrote: > > Hi - Does anyone know of a good test to determine if a wheel bearing needs > replacement? I hear the rumbling when I drive, but I'm not sure if it's > tranny noise, or wheel bearings. Also, what tool(s) do I need to do the > replacement myself? > > Thanks for you help as always! > > Mark B. > 1990 2.1 Westy >

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