Bearing whine OR Bad Customer Service???

[Tommy2000]

So get this- To make a long story shorter, I was doing some light off roading during lunch one day, and heard a loud pop on the front right side of my vehicle. Had no idea what it was but the truck rode like **** after that. Shaked badly on the highway etc. Also, the right front bearing sounded shot, (whining on the highway). Thought the ride was due to mud on the inside of the rims. It wasn't.

Additionally, I thought the bearing was bad due to the fact that I have had them go on other cars, and they all sound the same. Also on the highway when I veer to the left, it gets louder, and when I veer to the right, it gets quieter.

SO- I knew the front end was due to be looked at anyway, but I just decided to get it fixed and be done with it. So I found a 4x4 shop in Minneapolis, and took it in and told them do do the upper and lower ball joints, and all 4 front bearings.

WELL, I get the truck back and the steering *IS* a lot tighter, but it still jumps around on the highway(feels like unbalanced wheels-but it's not b/c I just had that done 1.5 weeks ago), AND the goddamn wheel bearing noise is back.

So I call the guy back and asked what was up, and he said that he didn't find anything whong/loose/wornout on the front end, but he replaced the ball-joints like I had asked him to, but he said that he took out the bearings and inspected and cleaned and repacked them, and they were fine.

When I asked him about the "bearing noise" he told me he had no idea why it is doing it, and then he had the balls to say that, AND I QUOTE "all explorers do that; I have no idea why..."

So I paid a total of $371.43us to have the balljoints done, and my bearings repacked. (I think the bearing labor was $150us)

Have I been taken? Considering the price of bearings (isn't it like $15us each??) The fact that he didn't put new ones in pisses me off. I don't care if they were "OK" or not, especially when I paid $150us to have the labour done, I don't want to have them done again in 6 months, and the noise is still there!


So, I ask you, am I just an idiot, (which is fine, I'll own up to it if I am) or is this guy bieng sneaky or lazy or something else???

Thanks for your feedback guys.

------------------
93 Sport 4X4, 150k Mi, Llumar Metallic Tinted Windows, GTS Taillight Covers, Sony CD and Boston Acoustics drivers
Bosch +4's. Modified Airbox, Allied 8.5mm wires (Splitfire wires on order) 31x10.5's

 

[Bob Saf]

Does your truck still have autolocking hubs.
Maybe one of the hubs are going bad. It could be the little bearing in the hub. Pull the wheel off and check the hub

Bob S
1994 xlt 4x4 4dr
class 3 hitch front and rear

 

[Gigantor]

IF you had both sides, top and bottom ball joints done for that price I would not complain UNLESS he did NOT use product with a lifetime waranty such as Moog. If this guy only charged you 150 for the entire labor cost you made out! I paid I think 100 for one side. I sat there, and talked to the guy. So I know how to do it next time.
Also, look into a steering stablizer. That should help out even more with the bounce.

------------------
Nick
'93 XLT 4 Door 4x4
Bosch Plat+4's with SplitFire Dual Core wires and a
K&N Air Filter with a Modified Air Box

 

[FMNavajo]

Tommy2000,
I agree with Gigantor on the price for replacing balljoints, was the $371.43 the total?, or did that not include the $150 for the beerings? I called around here and they wanted 4-500 to replace the ball joints on both sides, I did it myself for the price of the parts and a $60 machine shop charge to press the old ones out and the new ones in.

As for the beerings, it's pretty easy to tell if there bad when they're clean. And as Bob Saf said you should check the auto hubs as well.

The only other item I can think that might be causing the noise is the spindle beerings. The only thing is that these are only used when the truck is in 4x4 and the axles are spinning, I think?.

And it must be nice to have a place close enough to go 4 wheelin on a lunch break!!

Good luck,
FM

 

[FMNavajo]

Yea, $223 is an excellent deal for having ball joints replaced.

FM

 

[FMNavajo]

Yea, $223 is an excellent deal for having ball joints replaced. MOOG or not!

FM

 

[Gigantor]

Tommy,
Moog do have a LIFETIME warranty! However at that price, I dont think you got a bad deal. Just remember to grease these! Fords are non greaseable, thats why they wear out so fast.

------------------
Nick
'93 XLT 4 Door 4x4
Bosch Plat+4's with SplitFire Dual Core wires and a
K&N Air Filter with a Modified Air Box

 

[Blue Ranger]

Tommy,
I would have to agree that the whining you are hearing is your autolocking hub. I have had 1 go bad on me. I swithched to the Warns and all is good. Also you said that you have vibration like your wheels are out of balance. Is it possible that you lost some balance weights when you were playing?

 

[Tommy2000]

it is certainly possible, and I am hoping it is just my worn tires...will find out later this week or next when I get my new AT ko's...

Blue Ranger, where in Mpls you from?

------------------
93 Sport 4X4, 150k Mi, Llumar Metallic Tinted Windows, GTS Taillight Covers, Sony CD and Boston Acoustics drivers
Bosch +4's. Modified Airbox, Allied 8.5mm wires (Splitfire wires on order) 31x10.5's

 

[Tommy2000]

$371.43 was the total, of that, $150 was for the labor to clean the bearings...

I went back to ask the guy what kind of balljoints he used, if they were Moog, and he said that they wern't moog, and I asked him if the ones he used had a lifetime warranty, and he said that nobody has a lifetime warranty on balljoints. I told him that I was pretty sure that Moog did... so anyway...

He really is a nice guy, and so I think he probably gave me a fair deal...while I was there he also GAVE me a couple poly shock mounts for free, so that was pretty cool...

------------------
93 Sport 4X4, 150k Mi, Llumar Metallic Tinted Windows, GTS Taillight Covers, Sony CD and Boston Acoustics drivers
Bosch +4's. Modified Airbox, Allied 8.5mm wires (Splitfire wires on order) 31x10.5's

 

[Blue Ranger]

I actually live in St. Louis Park. Anyone out there going to Dresser, WI over Memorial weekend? Tommy I have an extra set of auto locking hubs if you are interested. One is good one isn't.

 

[Tommy2000]

Blue-where in SLP? I live in Robbinsdale and work in EP. What a small world! What is in Dresser?

Do you know which hub is good/bad? I think my other one went out thismorning on Hwy 100, b/c the drivers side starting howling at about hwy 62...what did you want for them?

You know how the manual (crazy as it is) says that you can engage the 4wd up to 60 mph, at what speed can you engage the manual hubs up till?

------------------
93 Sport 4X4, 150k Mi, Llumar Metallic Tinted Windows, GTS Taillight Covers, Sony CD and Boston Acoustics drivers
Bosch +4's. Modified Airbox, Allied 8.5mm wires (Splitfire wires on order) 31x10.5's

 

[Blue Ranger]

Tommy-I live In the 394 Xenia/Park Place area and also work in EP.

The MN Go 4's have a memorial day weekend Off-road event going on at Trollhaugen Ski Resort. It runs all weekend. If you are interested in going send me an e-mail.

I am not sure which one is bad. Both Hubs were working fine. I bought warn manual locking hubs. Then with the great MN driving on 169 south I thought I would put the auto's back on till summer. Only thing is one of them was giving me that wonderful whine. So I put the Warn's back on and put the Auto's away.

I think it is ok to engage the 4wd up to 60 as long as your tires aren't spinning. I am really glad I got the Warn's now.