My last oil change on the maxima, i found what i thought to be a bad wheel bearing, front pass. I'll admit, i jumped the gun and went to go replace that part instantly.
I found the wheel would move at 3/9 and at 12/6. I didn't see torn boots on the balljoints or tierods as i removed the spindle. When i had the spindle off, i was able to make it wobble as i took it to a shop to have the new bearing pressed. I only replaced the wheel bearing with a TIMEKEN and 2 napa axle seals. I heard TIMEKEN was the OEM for nissan when it came to wheel bearings. When i got the spindle back from the shop, i instantly tested it for wobble. NOTHING. Strong and solid as could be.
I installed it and drove around for a bit. Came back and the play is still present! I did research and thought maybe control arm bushing or tie rod/ balljoints are bad.
Today, I had about an hour time. I wanted to make sure it was the control arm before i go order one up. I was expected to see play in the arm, instead of i found the axle moving. Looking closer at it, the wheel has play about just shy of a half a cm. Nothing is moving except for the axle, I stared long at hard at the tie rod, balljoint, control arm. NO movement, the axle however was moving back and fourth, i can see that by the ABS ring. I made sure the axle nut was tighten and rechecked everything.
I can wedge a prybar between the balljoint stud and the bottom of the axle and stop all movement with little to no pressure and the wheel would stop wobbling.
So now i'm left with, could the hub do this? I thought it was a solid unit. Could the bearing be bad or the installer screwed up pressing it? Or could the axle be bad? I replaced the axle about a year ago, blown boot. No problems since. The car drives find, no wheel bearing noise, no steering wheel play. Honestly i couldn't tell something was wrong until i checked each wheel.
What could this be?!
I found the wheel would move at 3/9 and at 12/6. I didn't see torn boots on the balljoints or tierods as i removed the spindle. When i had the spindle off, i was able to make it wobble as i took it to a shop to have the new bearing pressed. I only replaced the wheel bearing with a TIMEKEN and 2 napa axle seals. I heard TIMEKEN was the OEM for nissan when it came to wheel bearings. When i got the spindle back from the shop, i instantly tested it for wobble. NOTHING. Strong and solid as could be.
I installed it and drove around for a bit. Came back and the play is still present! I did research and thought maybe control arm bushing or tie rod/ balljoints are bad.
Today, I had about an hour time. I wanted to make sure it was the control arm before i go order one up. I was expected to see play in the arm, instead of i found the axle moving. Looking closer at it, the wheel has play about just shy of a half a cm. Nothing is moving except for the axle, I stared long at hard at the tie rod, balljoint, control arm. NO movement, the axle however was moving back and fourth, i can see that by the ABS ring. I made sure the axle nut was tighten and rechecked everything.
I can wedge a prybar between the balljoint stud and the bottom of the axle and stop all movement with little to no pressure and the wheel would stop wobbling.
So now i'm left with, could the hub do this? I thought it was a solid unit. Could the bearing be bad or the installer screwed up pressing it? Or could the axle be bad? I replaced the axle about a year ago, blown boot. No problems since. The car drives find, no wheel bearing noise, no steering wheel play. Honestly i couldn't tell something was wrong until i checked each wheel.
What could this be?!
