IgnacioLT

Hey everyone, for the past few years I have been dealing with a drone while I am driving down the road. I haven't been able to figure out if it is caused by my wheel bearing or by something else such as the CV Axle? Some of the symptoms are that it is a dull drone that I hear while I am driving and it does change in loudness and speed with the speed of the vehicle. I can also feel it in the steering wheel at times as it feels like it is coming from the front and not the back wheels. All this leads me to believe that my wheel bearings are bad. However, the wheels don't move at all if I lift the front end up and try to check the bearings by jiggling the wheels??? Is bearing play/wheel movement always present when you have a bad bearing?

Also, I know that I have a bad CV joint as during very cold winter days I get a very bad vibration during acceleration. However, we don't get those around here very much so I have not dealt with the problem that only shows its presence once or twice a year. Also, I just lifted the car a few minutes ago and jiggled the CV/axles and they both had play, the passenger more so.

Some info on my car is that it is a 97 base with 190K miles on it. Everything is still working on it...except for the transmission which has been slipping for the last 10k miles.

Any help and direction is appreciated...I just don't want to spend money changing the bearings if they really aren't bad. Or if they are, I would go ahead and do the cv/axle as it is only one extra step added in changing the bearings.

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MOO!

Honda4Life

If it is a "drone" type noise, it's a wheel bearing. I had that issue as well. It was the right rear on mine but I replaced both rears anyways.

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Asianpoet

changing bearings is a little more complicated. but easily manageable..
gets even easier if you have a press...

but if you plan it right... you can get wheel bearing for cheap.. 20 dollars on ebay..
or you can go to checkers for 45 a piece (the fronts) I dont know how much the back one are..
this is also the best time to upgrade to extended lugz on the car (IMO, not really worth it) unless you have brokem studs already..

IgnacioLT

How could you tell it was the right rear? Did you lift the car up and get some play on that wheel? I lifted up all four corners last night and I didn't get any play. I am wondering if you always have play when you have a bad wheel bearing?

How would you change the front bearings without a press? I think I can do all but that in my garage when it comes to changing the bearings as I don't have a press. If I didn't use a press, what tools would I need?

I would probably end up buying the parts from autozone since I would probably also get new cv/axles as they are about $50 each and have lifetime warranty.

__________________
MOO!

Honda4Life

No play. Could just tell the noise was coming from there.

If it is the rear ones they just bolt on. No press needed.

__________________
PreludePower.com is a joke and is ran by kids. The Off Topic Whores and the MODS who require being respected and threaten people when they feel they are not. What a joke. BTW, don't ask them a question as they will answer with a ban.

SoCalPrelude.com MODS only inforce rules on some and not on all. Kyle is a joke.

BTW, Eric Schultz in CA is a known scammer. He did it to me, he can do it to you. Just a heads up. Know as "backinblue92" here on PO.com

IgnacioLT

I ask because it sounds like it is coming from the front bearings on mine so I would need a press.

__________________
MOO!

Asianpoet

I did it without one... only cause i havent gotten around to building my 20 ton. (I procastinate alot)
when you beat the crap out of the old one, to get it out .. save it and use that as a buffer between the new one. you will also need a crankshaft oil seal tool/driver.. (its got a flat circular disk, and a long rod as a driver)
its also very important to grease before u reinstall a new one.. if u choose to do this, make sure the bearing doesnt come apart. take your time.
I would google videos of how to install wheel bearing.. (thats what i did to double check stuff)
when your cheap, you find creative solutions to a problem.