Breaking tools to get off spindle / hub

[CheeseHelmet]

Cheesehelmet, normally you can tell a wheel bearing because it will change pitch or go away all together when you turn to the right or the left at speed. Also, spinning your wheel by hand will often reveal a bad bearing, and you can use the shop test to determine (grab the top and bottom of the wheel and see if it moves) but I had a bad bearing but the wheel didn't seem to move when I did that.

I've tried the "shop test" that you described and there's no apparent looseness. I recently inspected my right rear hub (took the disk off) and noticed that when spinning the hub it's not perfectly smooth (it's a little gritty at times) and it barely makes half a rotation when I give it a hard spin (I suspect that's normal though).

For those of you who've had bad bearings, can you describe the sound? When you say it's "loud" does that mean that it's loud enough to make it hard to talk to your passenger? My problem is that the noise I hear isn't very apparent, most of my passengers don't even notice it (even when I point it out).

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

It sounds like roaring...like very loud road noise. When it gets bad, it does interfere with conversation in the cabin. It will definitely change or disappear when turning to the right and left. The "shop test" is often inconclusive; you could still have a bearing going but feel no play. If you had a bearing going, when you spun the wheel, you would hear some kind of a noise, more than just a vage gritty sound.

Maybe the noise you're hearing is road noise from a worn tire?

 

[CheeseHelmet]

It sounds like roaring...like very loud road noise. When it gets bad, it does interfere with conversation in the cabin. It will definitely change or disappear when turning to the right and left. The "shop test" is often inconclusive; you could still have a bearing going but feel no play. If you had a bearing going, when you spun the wheel, you would hear some kind of a noise, more than just a vage gritty sound.

Maybe the noise you're hearing is road noise from a worn tire?

I think I get what you mean, I don't think that's what I'm hearing.

It can't be a bad tire either because the noise was present with all 4 sets of tires I've had on my car. It's also been around since last spring which also makes me question whether it's a bearing...

 

[tweety2300]

Well, since I had a wheel bearing going at the same time, I think they were both making a similar sound - a loud constant humming that changes intensity with speed. I cannot imagine that the axle carrier bearing would or could make a popping sound. When do you get this sound? does it change with speed? happen more during turns?

It goes away when I turn left,right, or hit the brakes and it gets quieter when I hit the gas or speed up. And its loudest when I'm going straight 25-35 little or no throttle. Its got me stumped I tried the shop test and also had it on jack stands turn the tire as fast as I coulld by hand and nothing. I think I'm gona have to take it somewhre to get it looked at it seems to be getting worse

 

[SpeeddemonRobb]

Well, I know that for $30 or so, Firestone does a vehicle inspection ~ you can tell them what you are experiencing, and they will diagnose it for you. Even if the cost is $50 it is still less then over $100 that I spent at the dealer. I suspect that you have an issue with your CV axle. If this was a wheel bearing, and you drive even normal mileage each year, one of the wheels would have seized and broken off by now. Take it somewhere to get it figured out, and if it is the axle, I reccomend spending the little bit extra (if you are going to be doing it yourself) to change out the wheel bearings, and axle carrier at the same time. This of course depends on how many miles you have on the car, and if this service has been done in the recent past.

Like I posted previously, if you have the right tools at your disposal, all the parts, and a good machine shop (or a press of your own) - you can knock this out in a day, or a weekend at worst. I really wish I be there to help you with it, so we could do a write up with pictures and all... but... I'm not.

Good luck, and post what you find out ~ but get it fixed sooner then later ~ sounds like that will eventually do more damage .

 

[tweety2300]

I can do an axle if we keep it itl be getting a clutch at the same time. Its geting worse I think the motor mounts caused it... ima try to get it looked at friday

 

[KMac]

I am glad the experience I am having right now with the hub is not just me. I already broke 2 pullers trying to get this b**** out. I am now going to O'Riley's tomorrow to rent an axle pusher to see if it can get this hub off. Holy crap is anything easy on these cars? This hub is starting to be a pain. Thanks for posting everything you did do too. I wasn't sure what I was getting into but now I see I am not losing it over these bearings.

 

[HighSpeed]

To Add on to the thread with my experience with wheel bearings

I had an issue with my MSP where the bearing/hub assembly got so bad(my wife driving it and not telling me about the noise) that the hub fused itself to the cv axle. I had to take the whole assembly out and replace the knuckle, bearing, and cv axle......that was a PITA, and I would advise to mitigate the noise sooner than later...........and not let your wife DD your MSP ;-)

 

[KMac]

Well I got everything removed and ended up having to take both to a shop to get the hub and bearings pressed out then the new ones pressed back in. Only $65 in shop time. But Damn these were a pain....

 

[KMac]

Well and update on this post the shop time ended up being two hours work and $140. The machinist had issues with the clips too. He stated he wished Ford and Mazda would have never gone to this style of hub assembly.