Found out wheel bearings are trashed

[TYTILIDIE]

I was installing the A2A yesturday and had my crazy old mentor over helping me out. Havent talked to the guy in a few years but he is the one who taught me 1/2 of what I know about cars. Or atleast got me started. I had the front end jacked up and for whatever reason, he starts shaking my tires and when he did the passenger side he tells me my wheel bearings are trashed. I get up and check it out and sure enough, the tire wobbles like an SOB. No wonder I have never had a good alignment! No wonder my passenger side tires always fall apart!! No wonder my turck always swerves all over the place!!! Im not sure whats scarrier though, driving around for 3 years with crappy wheel bearings or gettin 4 alignments and not one shop notice they are screwed up. Im excited to change them oput in hopes for a better steering system. Kinda pricey I see but Im sure they are worth it. Is it possible Ill need to replace the front axles or do I just need to pull it and see? Ill be doing this at the end of April so I have time.

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

Did it squeak or grind at all? I am having a squeaking/grinding sound come from my front end....should I try to see if my wheels are loose?! Thanks ---

 

[willyson]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

the alignment shop is supposed to check this before alignment. I wouldnt go back to anywhere you took it for an alignment

 

[Loeryder]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

If you did the ABS delete you can run the cheaper 4x4 wheel bearing/hubs.
They just don't have the ABS toning ring in them, that's the only difference.
And it shows on the $$$$$$...

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

I have a set of 50k good hubs (ABS) that I will let go for cheap if you're interested :lol:

Seriously though, +1 on the non abs hubs, I have them and couldn't be happier with the savings

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

Yeah I priced them just a minute ago at $75. They are from an 86 Blazer/Jimmy. The guy at Autozone wasnt sure if the axle shaft would be the same size though. Ill probably just take mine off and bring down and see.

 

[Loeryder]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

You think the guy at Autozone knows jack shit about axle diameter?
Much less the difference between a syty and a Jimmy...
ROFL

I thought I recalled Adam saying when he worked at AZ they had all kinds of part#s wrong in the computer and when he started pointing them out they never got fixed.

Look at it this way:
If the axle shafts are interchangeable from a std 4x4 s-series to a syty don't you think the bearing carrier is at least the same size?

Don't take advice from the meatheads at AZ.

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

Wasnt really planning on it. But since they arent on the up and up, Im bringing it down to make sure it fits before I buy it.

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

Good Idea, thanks for the FYI on the 4x4 hubs.

$172 shipped for two at this ebay store WITH abs

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190033704079&fromMakeTrack=true

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

ABS is gay.

 

[Loeryder]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

ABS is gay.

Especially the first generation of Kelsey-Hayes 3 channel system.
and the 4 channel didn't get much better...

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: Found out wheel bearings are trashed

Well, I took out my old ones and they came out in two pieces. I dont think thats normal. Bought 86S15 hub for 75$ @ Autozone. They seem to work fine so far. Now I just have to do the other side.