Front end Wheel Bearings

[Vozar]

Tonight i was rotating my tires and i notice up front that i have some play . The front end was jacked up and u can grab the tire at the top and bottom and move it back and fourth. Pretty sure its my wheel bearings but i dont know where to start. First ive never tried wheel bearings. Second i got my gears put in and im pretty sure they reaplaced and the seals and bearings. I wouldnt think they would fail this quick. Gears were done a couple months ago. I know on 2nd gens you have to replace the whole assembly but dont know to start. I could use advice and if you have any pics that would be cool, Thanks

-Matt-

 

[Howard]

It might not be the wheel bearings at all. Play top and bottom might well be the ball joints. Do you get play side to side as well? Any noises? and of course there must be a little play anyway.

 

[Vozar]

When i move wheel in and out the cv and where its connected to the spindle moves also. And one other thing the wheels when i spin them do spin for that long and feel a little tight. One weird thing is that when i use 4wd sometimes and go through a little bit of water weird squeaking/screeching noise come from front which could be the wheel bearings. Other than that no weird noises.

 

[Howard]

Check the drive shaft nuts are at the correct torque.

 

[Vozar]

Ok it turns out the front wheel bearings were bad. I replaced both hub assemblies this weekend and the parts set me back $340. Kind of pricey but it was worth it. I will post some pics of the old assemblies and the aftermath they caused. Well now those are fixed i still have a squeeling/schreeching noise when i turn the wheel and i hit bumps and stuff. Its either some bushings, balljoints, or tierods. Any want to take a shot at guessing what it is. I cant freakin figure it out! Thanks,

-Matt-

 

[DirtyDog]

It could be the torshion bar. There is a long bolt that goes from the top of the torshion bar to the bottom of the A-frame (where the bottom of the front shock bolts to). They might need to be tightened. It is a 16mm for the bolt head and a 15mm for the lock nut underneath(if my memory serves me correct). You will have to remove the front wheel to do this. Tighten both sides and try it.