2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission are my front bearings shot?

[Richterno1]

i'm starting to get a weird squealing sound from the front when i turn the truck left or right, i am not braking. what could be my problem? are my hub bearings shot?



thanks for your help.

 

[KYOUNG]

could be U joints...

 

[jnelson]

On my 2wd I would go to a "Big Truck" shop and they have a wheel (tire) spinner. they'll jack up the front of your truck and put the spinner on there and spin the wheel purty fast. If you hub bearing is out, you'll surelly know.

 

[Richterno1]

don't know where i could go to find a wheel spinner but i have found this:
passenger i took the wheel off and i don't get any sound as soon as i put it back on the squealing returns. its mostly with the wheel turned but today it has started with the wheel being straight. I'm thinking bearing but i'm not sure. please help.

 

[JFaughn]

With the front end off the ground , grab the top & bottom of the wheel , push & pull the top & bottom in & out [ trying to tilt the wheel ] if its lose , you'll feel it , if not then problem is els where .
With the front end still up & wheel still on , spin by hand to see if you can hear , buy a cheap stethoscope , put a peace of brake line /fuel line on the hose , get near the suspected part , if not moving , touch with tubing , should hear .

 

[rotohead]

I've got a truck very similar to yours so I figure you and I have similar mileage (110k miles). I've never had any noise or other indicators to lead me to believe I've got a bad bearing but the last brake job I did a yr ago I pulled the abs sensor and looked in the hole and thought it looked more dry then I would've liked. I've got new hubs ready to go and going to order ball joints so when I do my yearly brake servicing I'm replacing the hub/bearing assembly whether there's a obvious problem or not. I'm of the opinion that I'd prefer to do the r/r in my garage then have it done in a shop I don't know anything about. I was tempted to shoot some bearing grease in the abs sensor hole but thought that might blow a seal or some other problem. I've seen a member install a grease fitting on the hub to service it w/o removing anything but I'm not that capable of a mechanic.
Just for thought.
Chuck

 

[JFaughn]

Theres no grease that the sensor is exposed to [ you pulled sensor , there is not spouse to be grease at that point ] .
The guy that did the grease fitting , had to drill a hole through the bearing , then install , then drill a hole through the hub/knuckle for the fitting , the grease would pass through the hub , through the outer race & into the bearings .

 

[rotohead]

Theres no grease that the sensor is exposed to [ you pulled sensor , there is not spouse to be grease at that point ] .
The guy that did the grease fitting , had to drill a hole through the bearing , then install , then drill a hole through the hub/knuckle for the fitting , the grease would pass through the hub , through the outer race & into the bearings .

This is why I've learned over the years that some of my best mechanic work is the stuff I DON'T DO!! If I had shot grease into that sensor hole I woud've made more problems for myself. Thanks for the pointer.
Chuck