Feels like a flat

[my1zamboni]

I posted this in the rear bearing section also because I believe that is what it may be, but am not convinced of that.

I have a question about this......
I had both fronts bearings done about 2 years ago.
Left rear bearing done in February. There is some play in the right rear tire (a bit of a wobble when jacked) I noticed while changing a flat.
Now my car is ALL OVER the road. Feels like a flat again but all tires are good. Could the right rear bearing be causing this? It isn't grinding like the left rear did. I could feel the left rear grind through the whole car, including under my feet.
I don't have the grinding/vibration, but it is tough to hold on to, really feels like a flat, but all air pressure is good and the same.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks in advance

 

[JDT]

id make sure that the lugs are tight, an that you dont have any broken studs

 

[my1zamboni]

Lugs are tight, and no studs are broken.
With the car jacked up the tired can be rocked a bit side to side so I believe that is the bearing is gone.
But now my car is all over the place, feels like a tire 1/2 down. I have since had the tires replaced and it has not gotten better, I thought maybe it was just the spare that was the problem, but not so.
Like I also said all air pressure is good.
Could the bad bearing make it feel like this or am I looking at another problem?

 

[sethmorgan]

Broken sway bar end links can make the vehicle feel unstable. So can broken springs.

Since you already know the bearing is an issue since the wheel wobbles when jacked up, I would definitely replace it now. If you can move it back and forth with your hand, imagine what it's doing at highway speed.

 

[BigRondo]

Maybe the toe link is bad?

 

[my1zamboni]

OK, First off thank you all for the suggestions.
I really don't have the money right now to just go changing parts so I need some help to get this done. I need to make sure I change the "right"parts.
This is what I have checked due to suggestions.....
*Lug Nuts - all tight
*Studs - all look good
*Air pressure - all good and same
*Tires - 4 new so no miss match
*Springs - all 4 look good, visual inspection only but no cracks.

This is what I do know, if I jack the vehicle up I can move the tire up and down and side to side, a bit not a ton, but the left rear does not do this.
If I take the tire off I can move the hub assembly the same, again the left does not do this.

How do I check sway bar end links and toe link? These are 2 items I have no experience with so be gentle when explaining. (Thanks in advance)

I don't feel the vehicle is safe to drive right now and need to get this fixed asap, on the highway I was drifting alot within my lane so much so that I stopped to check the tires, lug nuts etc. If I do a "slalom" manuver on a straight road if feels just like a flat, the car litteraly "drifts" side to side just like a flat tire would do.

Thank you all for your help with this.

 

[sethmorgan]

Understandable. I'm holding off on brakes right now for the same reason. Fortunately I've still got plenty of time.

The end links connect the sway bars to the control arm. There are a couple of good threads with pics on here.

 

[Carguy3J]

There may,or may not be other things wrong as well, such as sway bar links,etc.... However, you NEED TO FIX THAT BEARING ASAP!!!!!! Period. If there is any "play", especially with the wheel off, and just using your hands, then the bearing is shot. With the way that setup is designed, when that bearing lets go completely, you may very well lose the wheel. The only other thing keeping the wheel attached is the cv shaft, and that will easily separate under that kind of force. Also, you should replace both the bearing AND the hub. Some people try to cheap out, and only do the bearing, but that is a bad idea. They wear together, and should be replaced together; particularly if your has already started to wobble.

This is what you need:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...eel-Bearing-Hub-Assembly-Rear/_/N-jg9khZ6o2nz
The Duralast should be fine, although many will say to spend the extra $50 on the Timken. I probably would not, in this case.

Also, if you plan on doing this yourself, you can remove the spindle/knuckle from the vehicle, but you will need to have a shop press out the old bearing/hub, and press in the new ones. Most places with a press will probably charge $25-$40 to do that.

 

[Asmegin]

I had the same problem a few months ago. I kept thinking I had a flat.

Ended up being the sway bar end links.

 

[my1zamboni]

OK, so it is up on jacks both rear wheels off. Also both calipers and rotors off just so I can see.

*If i grab the axle (thing axle nut threads over) on left nothing or right I can wiggle it.

*What appear to be ball joints all look good, no play, boots aren't torn, etc.

*What I am guessing are sway bar end links (sort of look like a tie rod) are all straight and have absolutely no play in the pushing both in and out as well as front to back.

The only thing I see different between the 2 sides looks to be that bearing on the right. Now I am correct in the fact that if that axle moves then the bearing is bad?????
It moves enough that I can see it and it also makes a noise when I move it.

Should I be looking for anything else or is the bearing the problem I am having?

 

[Carguy3J]

OK, so it is up on jacks both rear wheels off. Also both calipers and rotors off just so I can see.

*If i grab the axle (thing axle nut threads over) on left nothing or right I can wiggle it.

*What appear to be ball joints all look good, no play, boots aren't torn, etc.

*What I am guessing are sway bar end links (sort of look like a tie rod) are all straight and have absolutely no play in the pushing both in and out as well as front to back.

The only thing I see different between the 2 sides looks to be that bearing on the right. Now I am correct in the fact that if that axle moves then the bearing is bad?????
It moves enough that I can see it and it also makes a noise when I move it.

Should I be looking for anything else or is the bearing the problem I am having?

I'm gonna say it again: CHANGE THE BEARING/HUB ASAP! ANY "wiggle" in the manner you described is VERY bad, and could (and will if ignored) turn into catastrophic failure while you're driving down the road.

 

[my1zamboni]

Follow up on this.....
Right rear wheel bearing was bad (no surprise there) What a Bi**h of a time getting it pressed out, came out in pieces and left the race in there. Had to hit the race quickly with a welder (had seen that hint in here somewhere) fell right out after that.
Put it all back together and my buddy checked out everything else while it was apart and he agreed all looks good.
$300 later and all is good again (Parts, lunch for the buddy, and of course.......beers)
Thank you to all who had suggestions and especially carguy3j who helped out with links and stuff.
This is a great place to be for Explorer owners.

 

[BigRondo]

Thanks for the update. Glad you got it fixed. :biggthump