Repacking Bearings Help!

[HitandRunDriver]

Okay, i've got 102k on my 01 hoe and when i'm moving from 0-15mph i hear squeaks from one of the two front wheels...definitely sounds like the bearing so i'm debating on the best course of action here. However, i am unsure of the life expectancy of wheel bearings and wondering if i should just regrease them or get new ones. I'd appreciate some help on this one.

 

[Sepiroth]

AFAIK, the front wheel bearings are a lubed for life setup. That means not having to repack your wheel bearings. Usually the symptom of a wheel bearing taking a crap would be more of a growling sound.

The squeaking I would guess would be maybe brakes.

 

[HitandRunDriver]

Well the brakes are ok, thats the first thing i thought they were but they checked out fine so i dont se how it could not be the bearing

 

[Sepiroth]

Well if it does turn out to be the bearing, you will most likely have to replace them as they are the type I listed above. Unserviceable

 

[Big Tap]

He speaks the truth. My front drivers side went out a few months back. When I was at speed, it made kind of a humming noise, similar to what an off-road tire would make on pavement. The hub assembly is an all-inclusive unit that has wheel studs and a new ABS sensor, with the bearings enclosed. It was pretty easy to install and cost about $200 to do the job.

 

[Old Goat]

Use a length of heater hose as a make shift stethoscope to pin point the noise before you replace what doesn't need to be.....

 

[Big Tap]

You just need to get down there and pull the wheel off. Once you do that, spin the hub by hand. You should be able to tell pretty easily if it's bad.

 

[HitandRunDriver]

Haha, true that....it would only take me like 5 minutes to jack up the front and shake the tire around and spin the hub but it's been HOT in so cal recently.....humid too, its on the to do list for this weekend

 

[boostaholic]

Buy some new unit bearings from napa, the wheel bearings go out in these trucks and it is fairly common.