Wheel Bearings shot?

[Orangecrush]

Okay, I have one of the nicest broncos you'll ever see (also have $40k in it) $-) .....but, you wouldn't know it because it has a new problem or two every day. The latest is this:

I'm driving down the road, trying to see if I have got the thing tuned correctly so it won't stumble and stall at every light when I hear a fairly loud noise coming from my truck. It sounds EXACTLY like I'm dragging something metalic. I pull over and inspect under the truck....nothing there. I get back in and drive....now it's really loud (people are looking). I get to the office and have my buddy come check it out.

The noise is coming from one rear wheel (I'm pretty sure). It happens even when I take it out of gear and push it. It soundl like I'm dragging something metalic. He immediately said it was a wheel bearing. I am inclined to think so too. I had a bad drive shaft not too long ago, and it was rebuilt (alegedly)......then again, the same mechanic said he re-packed my wheel bearings and they "should be just fine" I don't know what to think anymore. b-(

Any ideas? If it is the bearings, is that a pretty easy job? What parts to buy??

 

[STLKIKN]

The rear wheel bearings on a 9" are not repackable, if your mechanic charged you for a rear wheel bearing re-pack, hit him upside the head with his own crescent wrench!

There could be a couple of (weird) things going on...

If it is a rear wheel bearing, chances are that while moving, if you LIGHTLY press the brake pedal. the noise will get quieter, or go away.

Take the rear wheels off, make sure the brakes are ok, and that nothing has fallen apart and is dragging inside the drum. Check the drum and the backing plate for contact marks (incorrect drum or bad wheel bearing can cause this)

This is a good time to check those rear wheel bearings, with the drum off, grab the axle ****** at 12 and 6, try and move the axle up and down, and in and out. Turn the axle, or move your hands to 3 and 9, try and move the axle front and back. If the ****** moves more than about 1/16 of an inch, the bearing should be replaced.

Check the rear diff pinion yoke, if there is a slinger on the yoke, make sure it is firmly affixed, and not just rattling around.

If it is the wheel bearings, you should replace the bearing and retainer (they should come together in one box), and while the axle is out, replace the axle seal.

Not too bad of a job, but the retainers can be a bugger to remove, and the bearings and retainers need to be pressed back on. It may be easier for you to remove the axles yourself, and have a shop replace the bearings.

 

[Orangecrush]

Thanks for the tips and detail. I can grab the wheel that seems to be making the noise, by the knobs on the tire, and by pusing in towards the body and then pulling back, make a pretty good "clink clank, clink clank" noise. The whole wheel seems to wiggle about 1/16".

Yes, as for my mechanic, he does in fact derserve a good wrench to the head. I'll digress and tell you he had my truch for 1 year exactly. He screwed up most everythign that I paid to have done. He walked with $10k of my cash and I've spend over $3000 so far fixing the stuff he suposedly did in the first place. Unreal!

Yes, he said that my wheel bearings were "full of muck" and asked me how this happened. I told him I had no idea and that I bought the truck just a few weeks before. He said that he "repacked the axles or bearings or something" and that they should be good. He also charged me for 4x new drums and shoes. I wonder if you may be right about something screwed up inside that drum. The guy is honestly a trained chimp.

Anyone in LA looking to have their Bronco worked on? Better contact me so I can give you a heads up.

 

[Broncoholics]

Sounds like a good time for you to pick up a wrench and do this stuff yourself and save a bundle. We can all pretty much help walk you thru all the procedures.

When pulling on the axle in/out will have play and make a clank sound. Thats OK. The side to side and up and down movement you don't want. Once the brakes are off by undoing the 4 bolts behind the brake drum will take the entire brake package off to make it easy. Then turn the axle and if it still makes the noise replace the wheel bearing. You will have to yank the axle pretty hard to get it out. Getting the old bearing off is a trick without a bearing puller. They are cheap at the part store. Getting it back on is easy if you have a long piece of 2" pipe. Insert the axle into the pipe and use a sledge hammer to whack it back on. Otherwise a shop will do it cheap.

If the fluid level is low the pinion bearing might be dry and making noise. First look to see the level by pulling the fill plug and feeling in with you finger. It should be right at the top about to poor out.

Drain the gear fluid in the diff if there was mud in there before, see what it looks like.

 

[Orangecrush]

Great! I'll work on it this weekend. Yes, I know I should be doing this stuff myself. I'm pretty good with most things; however, I lack knowledge of: transmissions and most of the rest of the driveline. I also don't usually have a lot of time.

This sounds like a project I'll tackle. I'll order up the new bearings ("large" or "small"?). The noise is so loud and obvious and at all speads, it should be easy to find it once the wheel is off.

Thanks in advance for all the help!

 

[Broncoholics]

It could just be a rock or a spring inside the brake scraping around in there.

Large bearing will have 1/2" studs off the axle tube ******.

Without pulling anything you can look at the back side of ****** where the axle tube meets it. Just behind the mounting ****** will have a large taper getting larger towards the mounting ****** meaning more room for the large bearing. If the axle tube is the same size right up to the mounting ****** its small bearing. Small bearing will have 3/8" studs.

 

[Orangecrush]

It could just be a rock or a spring inside the brake scraping around in there. Large bearing will have 1/2" studs off the axle tube ******.

Without pulling anything you can look at the back side of ****** where the axle tube meets it.  Just behind the mounting ****** will have a large taper getting larger towards the mounting ****** meaning more room for the large bearing.  If the axle tube is the same size right up to the mounting ****** its small bearing. Small bearing will have 3/8" studs.

20866[/snapback]

​

Yep, took the wheel off......found a cable that was rubbing against the front of the hug assembly. That was it. I tucked it behind some stuff and presto, noise gone.

Now I've got more problems. I'll post them separately.

Thanks!

 

[STLKIKN]

Excellent!!

Quick, simple and cheap to fix, I wish all problems were that easy to deal with!!