Symptoms of failing wheel bearings

[jaydublyew]

I keep hearing that play in the wheel would be a symptom of bad wheel bearings. Is it at all possible that you can have failing wheel bearings w/o the slightest hint of play in a wheel?

I've done a search, and couldn't quite find the answer. I'm asking because I thought my bearings may be going. I checked play in my wheel that the subtle grinding/occasional squeel/noise is coming from, and no play.

I had bearings on a Ford F-800 flatbed go out on me on the freeway last week, and barely got to an exit before the wheel came completely off, which is why I'm a little worried about my Explorer doing the same thing. There was no sign of them failing until the wheel came off.

The grinding noise is fairly subtle, but twice was louder for about 30 feet when first taking off from a complete stop. I have an occasional squeel (once a week or so for about a day) that begins at about 10mph and has the same pitch and sound no matter what speed. Braking and turning has no effect on the sound whatsoever.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Maybe I should just try to check them out myself, but I've never done that and don't know what to look for.

 

[mhn3773]

ok my 91 tracker 4x4 i had both front bearings burn out on me because my grandpa never greased them..so we took it to a place to change them a croked sob

before the car went in there were all of the signs including the massive play in the tire

but the croked sob only changed the outside bearings not the inside ones

so a little while later all the signs came back but no wheel play at all

if u are that worried about the bearings ( u have all right to be that worried) i would take a look at the bearings..i dont know howto to do that so ull have to ask someone else..but when it is a part like the bearings its better safe then sorry time..u dont need another wheel coming off becasue of 45$ bearings

 

[Opera House]

With the hub bearings you have, they would start to make noise way before you could ever feel anything. If you have over 100K then the probability is pretty good. These bearings are about $170 a side just for the part. I had a mild grinding noise that would increase when the nose came down after going over a hill. Only thing I could do was take a chance and put a new one in. Pressed open the old bearing but there wasn't the kind of damage that would make that much noise, but new bearing got rid of it.

 

[mhn3773]

170 bucks..gesh thats rich lol

just dont pay 600$ for them to only replace one set ..on a zuki lol