Which Front Wheel Hub?

[jims5600]

Hi All, Drove a friends 05 Buick Century. Slight noise going straight, Sounds like a hub bearing to me.
Steering right the noise is still there. Steering ot he left the noise disappears. Every time I guess on
which side I guess wrong! Looking for some adivse from our experienced posters. Thanks

 

[CT8]

Noises are some times hard to troubleshoot.
If you have to ask you are not diagnosing the problem.

 

[twouvakind]

CV joint.....the list of possibilities grows

 

[cb_13]

Generally bearing noise will get louder with more weight on it. So if you turn left and the noise goes away I would suspect the left bearing as being the culprit.

If I've learned anything about GM fwd vehicles it's that you might as well replace the hub/bearing assemblies in pairs. The other side will be howling in a month or so. A service manager I worked under came from a GM dealer and always had us price them in pairs on GM fwd platforms.

 

[Kestas]

Has the car been in storage recently? I was once fooled by rusty brakes.

 

[jims5600]

Kestas the car is his daily vehicle.
cb-13 I was thinking that too but wanted some opinions
before tering into it.

 

[Ihatetochangeoil]

Safely jack & support the front end, wheel(s) off the ground. IF you can place the palms of your hands at the top & bottom of the tire (6 and 12 O'clock) and there is vertical play, it's the wheel bearing. FWIW, I agree with cb_13. Replace in pairs. It is Timken 513179. NOT telling you to buy this, but the fitment chart is 29 pages long: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Front-Wheel-Hub-Bearing-Assembly-Pair-Fits-2000-2013-Chevrolet-Impala-5-Stud/252016131911?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 Here's about a 5 min+ ChrisFix Youtube video on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvKWGjmPKoc

I have 3 GM vehicles this fits. There are 3 bolts holding the hub on, plus the center axle bolt. If I remember correctly, the 3 are 15 mm and new tighten to 70 ft. lbs. You can turn the wheels all the way 1 way and get to 1-2 of them, then turn the wheels all the way the other way to get to the 3rd bolt. You'll have to use 3/8 drive tools (use 6 pt socket, don't need to round the bolt heads), 1/2" extension & ratchet won't fit in the restricted space. Can't remember the axle nut size, but there is a GM TSB specifying torque on the new bearing to be 118 ft. lbs.

I've done this way too many times. If you need more info, PM me. Hope this helps you.

 

[cronk]

I have been fooled and replaced the wrong side bearing.
When I was working at a Nissan dealership, one of the techs taught me to hold the coil spring in one hand and spin the wheel with your other hand.
The wheel with the bad bearing will transmit the rough vibration to the spring and you will feel a noticeable rough growl feel in the the spring.
I have been using this method for 10 years now and it works great!

 

[jims5600]

Guys thanks so much for the advise. Greatly appreciate it

 

[dan_erickson]

I am dealing with this exact issue on my 2011 Fusion. I swerved to the left noise gets louder so i replaced the right bearing and that did not fix the issue. I guess I'll replace the left side this week even though that would not make since with the swerve test.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted by dan_erickson
I am dealing with this exact issue on my 2011 Fusion. I swerved to the left noise gets louder so i replaced the right bearing and that did not fix the issue. I guess I'll replace the left side this week even though that would not make since with the swerve test.

Happened to me as well...Add to the mix that a bad wheel bearing can also NOT be loose and pass the tire pull test yet howl like a wolf and vice versa - be loose yet run quiet. You sometimes don't know for sure until you feel it by rotating it for roughness.

 

[Kestas]

Agreed. I've seen a wheel bearing howl with only a 2 mm spall.

 

[dan_erickson]

Just to update my issue if anyone was interested. The swerve test failed! First time in my life. I even had a co worker drive the car for a second opinion and he also agreed right bearing. After three right bearings the problem was the left bearing. My Fusion now has 2 new OEM Motorcraft wheel bearings

 

[ls1mike]

Like others have said do both. I have had a bunch of W-bodies. I found the newer bearings are hit and miss. Make sure you get the axle torque correct.
Try to get OEM if you can.

 

[dan_erickson]

Originally Posted by ls1mike
Like others have said do both. I have had a bunch of W-bodies. I found the newer bearings are hit and miss. Make sure you get the axle torque correct.
Try to get OEM if you can.

I had an 11 second Gtp back in the day and i didn't have to do bearings till 100K. I went with Timken and never had a problem with them. On that car i had one that was loose and one that was making noise.