My car was making a strange noise on the front drivers side. I was trying to determine if it was a wheel bearing, or a CV joint problem. This morning I jacked up the car and turned the wheel and everything sounded and felt fine. Pulled the wheel and gave it a visual inspection and still no problems. Put the wheel on and checked for end play and found about 1/4 inch. From what I've read this indicates that the wheel bearings are shot.

I just replaced this wheel bearing approx 6 months (< 5k miles) ago. I bought new Nissan bearings and seals and took the hub to a machine shop to have the bearings pressed into the hub. What would cause the bearings to fail so quickly? I've read that not tightening the driveshaft bolt would cause premature failure, but I know I torqued the nut and it appears to still be tight. What are the odds the bearing was bad to start with or that it was damaged while being pressed?

Also does anybody know if I order a hub from Nissan if it comes with the bearings already pressed in? With the gearings running $50+ shipping + $35 to have them pressed, I'm considering just ordering a hub if it comes with the bearings installed.

 

Don't know if the hub comes with the bearings.

Probably what happened when you had the bearings replaced is that the shop pressed the hub on too far. The drive shaft then pushes against the hub during suspension travel and pushes it outward a fraction of an inch. The hub carries the outboard inner race of the bearing along with it as it moves outward. This causes clearance to open up between the two halves of the inner race and you get bearing play.

I replaced my own bearings a couple of years ago and noticed that it if you press the hub in all the way to the stop, then you end up with this situation.

 

Thanks for the info.

How did you press them in?

I'm looking at possibly buying a cheap press, but I also saw a small hand tool (press) for pressing fwd wheel bearings in/out on harbor freight's site for $79. It looks pretty flemsly so I'm pretty leary. Any thoughts?

http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45210

 

I used a mechanic friend's hub and bearing press tools.

 

would bad wheel bearings make the clutch pedal vibrate a litte? i get this terrible moaing noise just like my wheel bearings are shot but my clutch pedal lightly vibrates. ne ideas

 

I highly doubt it. The moaning noise is usually the cluth hub springs vibrating, and the pedal vibration is from stick-slip (chatter) of the friction plate against the flywheel as you let out the pedal. The stick-slip is what excites the spring vibration.

 

I also had a wheel bearing go bad not long after I replaced it. When I replaced it the first time, I knew people had problems with the new one going bad after not very long. So I let Nissan rip me a new one because I figured they would do it properly, and let me know if something else like the hub needed to be replaced also. Well, that wasn't the best idea. This time around, I found an entire knuckle assembly (spindle) from a 99 with 60k miles at a junkyard for $35. Check out car-part.com, which is a nationwide link up of auto recyclers. Most places wanted more, but it turned out a place in my city had the best price.

 

what does this mean? my clutch is going?

 

No, it's pretty normal, depending on what kind of clutch you have. The oem clutch is typically pretty smooth, though. The usual first sign of the clutch needing replacing is inability to transfer torque (i.e. slipping) during hard acceleration.

 

Hey BobK
I have the same prob right now; I had the divers side replaced a few months ago. Now I just replaced the passangers side spindle and bearing and the dirvers side is acting up now???? I found my spindle at the slavage yard for about $100 but I put a new bearing in any ways. I guess it is time to change the drivers side agian.
Hey I have a damaged grease boot where the spindle and the control arm meet, any one know where I can find a new one???
Please thanx!!!

 

I was just wondering if my mods may have aided the problem??
I have Tien S-tech, tokico illuminas, Greddy camber bolts, energy suspension bushings and a FSB on the front, plus the goodies I have in the back....

 

I'm not sure which seal your talking about, the wheel bearing seals or the ball joint boot? The wheel bearing seals are available from any parts stores or the dealer. I don't know if you can find replacement boots for the ball joints... you would probably need to install a new ball joint.

Nissan doesn't sell replacement ball joints, they only sell replacement control arms with a new ball joint. Parts stores do have replacement ball joints available, and they are pressed in the control arm. Most parts stores will "rent" you a tool to press the ball joints in for free (just put down a deposit). There is a snap ring on the top that must be removed to press the ball joint out. It's a good time to replace the ball joint anyway while you have it taken apart to do the wheel bearings.

 

thanx i have asked about this about 5 -6 times .....