Do I need new front wheel bearings?

[InTheShadows]

I'm driving a 2002 XLT 4 wheel Drive. It has a low pitch vibration/sound that I can hear and feel through the steering wheel and gas pedal when I am driving. This is speed sensitive, but it is not RPM sensitive. The vibrations have been getting worse over time and they now seem to get worse when driving through curves. It seems like I can feel it more on the left when I am curving to the right and vice versa. I think it's the bearings. Here are my questions:

How hard is it to change the wheel bearings?

Could it be something else? I know it's about time to get new tires, but I'm not sure they would cause these symptoms.

Is this the right part?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[34Ford]

Talk about timing. I just found out yesterday mine is making these sounds.
Im trying to determine now if it could be the tire.

But if its the bearings, we have to buy the complete hub. And I checked AutoZone and its $195 a piece.
Advance was higher.

Oh, I was reading on here about people getting lifetime warranty on the ones they bought and all AutoZone and Advance has is 1 year.

 

[kert0307]

Does it only happen when you turn, or does it do it when going straight too?

 

[FilLaB0NGo7]

I changed both front wheel bearings (hubs) myself this past sunday. $340

The loud noise went away, but when I turn the wheel it often vibrates like an s.o.b. I thought maybe I put the hub in wrong, but that's kind of impossible as it only fits one way, I'm thinking it is the power steering pump.

fixed it then parked it and been riding my bike all week.

any one know what else would make these vibrations?

also: if your explorer has over 100k thats a good sign they need to be replaced, and its not that hard of a job.

 

[sopclod]

I recently had a problem that I thought seemed like I was driving on rumble strips all the time. When I turned the wheel one way a little it would lessen quite a bit. It was very difficult to tell which wheel it was coming from. I took it to a mechanic who determined that it was indeed a bad wheel bearing, in my case it was the right rear. I had them change it out; this is something that is a little beyond my means.

I lived with the sound for a LONG time before I first of all realized it was even abnormal (it grew slowly louder with time) and secondly actually decided to have it checked out.

 

[joedirt00]

i had my wheel bearings replaced by a mechanic a few weeks back. After he changed them my rack and pinon messed up. causing it to vibrate and jerk.
maybe the same happened to you with the vibrations. i kinda thought it was just the mechanic ripping me off.

 

[InTheShadows]

Does it only happen when you turn, or does it do it when going straight too?

The noise and feeling is there when going straight, but much more so when going through curves.

I hesitate to call it anything more than a feeling. It's definately nothing like going over rumble strips, but it is there. Like I said, my tires are close to needing replacement and I am not sure if maybe that could have something to do with it.

The link in my first post looks like the whole unit, is that the case or is there something else I might need to buy? I may just go ahead and do it and see if it takes care of the problem.

Thanks for the responses guys, keep the help coming.

 

[just2L]

How difficult is it to change the wheel bearings. I was just told that I need a LF and a RR replaced. I am wondering if this is a job a novice can tackle.