markjs Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Well my wheel sqeals when its cold and turning slightly, not so much when it's been running a while, or driving in a straight line. So I jack up the car on both sides one at a time and I grab the top of the tire and pull it outwards from the car. On the squeaky side there is a minute amount of play in the wheel and it moves just slightly and on the good side there is zero play at all. So am I looking at a bad wheel bearing or ball joint or both? How unsafe is it to drive this way for just a short while (a few hundred miles)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Unsafe? Not yet... After driving around, say on your way home. Get out and see if the castle nut is hotter on the bad side than on the good side. That is one symtom of worn bearings. Jack it up again and do that same test on the bad side. Except this time look down at your ball join when you wiggle it. Is the ball join wiggeling? If not then take the tire off and grab the hub. Then wiggle it again; feel like its loose inside there? Check torque of main castle nut, if it's loose then you prolly do have worn bearings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjs Posted August 25, 2005 Author Share Posted August 25, 2005 The castle nut was loose! But the problem I think is not the bearing so much as that I have just changed that drive axle and I think I did not get it tight the first time. I have to go test drive now and will let you know. Hopefully no real amount of dirt made its way up there..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjs Posted August 25, 2005 Author Share Posted August 25, 2005 No squeal and or play at all with the castle nut tight. Phew! That one was close! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Awsome; glad it was just loose. Keep checking it however! It if keeps getting loose you might have an issue You have the cotter pin in right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Other details to make sure that are correct: Dished washer facing the proper direction (convex outwards), and torque set to correct amount, rather than the too-low figure of 109(?) in many manuals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave valiant Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 145 LB Feet is the correct spec to torque to if I remember correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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