New wheel bearing causes vibration at 60 mph+

[SuperSteeler]

See if this makes sense to anyone. I had a new wheel bearing from Rock Auto installed on my truck. Had this done because when I went to have it aligned the tech identified that it had some play (grabbed the wheel at the top and bottom and it had play). But the truck seemed to drive fine. This morning the new wheel bearing went it and below 55 mph everything feels. Get it to 60 and things start vibrating. At 65 it was reminiscent of a death wobble (I've experienced that twice). So anybody have any theories? I know the ball joints are okay, not great but acceptable.

 

[rbattelle]

If the tech grabbed the wheel at the top and the bottom and it had play, how do you know the play was from the bearing and not from the ball joints?

Ryan

 

[sag2]

Assuming the install is correct may have knocked a wheel weight off when they had it apart. Swap a front tire for the rear and see what happens.

 

[SuperSteeler]

I'm going to swap a wheel and see if that helps. I thought if the ball joints were going a way to tell was to jack the front end up and put a bar under the tire. If the tire can move up and down you have play in the ball joints. The problem I saw on mine was an angularity issue about the centerline of the axle (top pulled out, bottom went in and vice-versa).

 

[rbattelle]

The problem I saw on mine was an angularity issue about the centerline of the axle (top pulled out, bottom went in and vice-versa).

Ah yes, good point. Sorry, I didn't think of it that way.



Did you torque the axle nut and wheel bearing retainer screws properly?



Ryan

 

[JHMiller]

SuperSteeler

Curious as to what you found as the problem of your vibration... . John

 

[SuperSteeler]

Yes, everything was torqued. The prooblem has actually almost disappeared. I never had time to swap a wheel. My only thought was that the tire had worn funny because of the bearing. When the new one was installed it pulled everything back true but then the tire was running on a different spot? I'm kinda puzzled but it's not rattling my teeth anymore, so that's good.

 

[p-Bar]

Did you inspect the races before installing new bearings?

 

[JMarketos]

Just a thought- given your location and (if I interpret correctly) that the issue seems to have solved itself- Is there any chance that there may have been a chunk of ice frozen inside one of the wheels, that may have now melted or dislodged itself ?