I brought my car in for a brake job yesterday morning because I badly needed new rotors and pads. I called my mechanic in the afternoon and he said that the brakes were done, but my front driverside wheel bearing was falling off! He said that if I didn't bring the car to him within a day or two, the wheel would have fallen off while I was driving. He asked if I heard a rubbing sound or anything and I did for about a week, but I just thought it was the brakes. He made a motion with his hands of how much play there was with the wheel, The best thing I can compare it to is if you only have two lug nuts on slightly before you tighten them- the amount the wheel moves when you push it.

So, front rotors(brembo blanks), set of pads, new hub and wheel bearing(both of which he had to get at nissan) came to $700. Small price to pay for not having my wheel fall off while driving and being seriously hurt or killed.

Honestly, I just thought that it was the brakes. There was a little play in the steering wheel, but again, I just figured it was normal. I had a very minor accident back in december where I rubbed against another car. He said that was it. Just that little bit "hurt" it and then over time made it worse.

Well, after it was all said and done, the drive home was "tighter" no doubt and it was nice coming to clean stops instead of the pulsating and shaking steering wheel.

 

Better be safe than sorry. Glad you're back on the road. Nothing like having your car back in good shape to drive!

 

Wow, so the only sympton you had was a rubbing sound? No wheel vibration except when braking?

 

No, but the shaking while braking was made wosre from the wheel he said. The steering wheel didn't feel too different from it does now. I think it was because it was a very progressive thing. After 7-8k miles of driving it got as bad as it did, wasn't like 10 or 15. I feel the difference now though, takes a lot less wheel movement to make the car turn.

 

if you want to check if your bearing are bad, jack up the front so the tires are in the air, grab the top and bottom of the tire and wiggle in and out..if they is play, the bearing is on its way out..glad you got it fixed with no probs, i can only imagine driving at 65 mph and the rim and tire falling off!!!!!!