99xjlove

Okay so now my jeep is making a moaning rumbling type noise from the front end. I thought that maybe my alignment was off so I had it re-aligned. I know for sure that I need new ball joints and wheel bearings. Could either one of those be causing my rumbling noise? Then they guy at the alignment shop told me to just replace my passenger upper and bring it back in to see if I would need an offset ball joint on the other upper. I feel that if I were to replace all 4 with stock replacements then it should be fine right?

I was looking at wheel bearings from NAPA. What is the difference between these 2 different types? I know there is a $40 difference but other than that what is there?
http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...+-+Front+Wheel

http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...+-+Front+Wheel

As far a ball joints go would these ones be okay.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/56100_00.htm

I don't do much rock crawling, just a little trail riding with the ocasional boulders in the way. I am also planning on going to 33" BFG M/T but this is going to put a delay in it. Please help me if you have any imput at all thanks.

99xjlove

Anyone have any info to share at all?

SeriousOffroad

Ball joints won't make the noise you're describing, hubs will.
I installed NAPA Premium Adjustable (2 deg) balljoints on my heep. The guts are urethane and last alot longer than OEM style joints.

BlueXJ

Yeah the NAPA ones are the best I have found. Unit Bearings are the growl you are experiencing.

GrantMLS

So anyone know the difference between the 2 hub assemblies? I need to change mine out soon and was curious about that also.

okcjeeper

One is probably a premium hub and the other isn't..I'd cal NAPA and ask them what the difference is..The descriptions are the same as well as the pictures so no way of knowing the difference..

BlueXJ

I have heard that it is the quality of the bearings but have never torn one apart to verify that statemebnt

muddeprived

If you got time to order and wait, RockAuto.com sells Timken bearings for $75 each.

GrantMLS

91.79 when i just looked but still a better value...

okcjeeper

If you wanna go with the cheapos without timken bearings just get on ebay and order them..You can get em for around $50 a piece any day..Although I would opt for the nicer timken bearings and seals..Just a side note though even the timken ones are made over seas now days..They are just a headier duty bearing and seal is all..but they will last much much longer..

muddeprived

I used to use the ebay bearings on my TJ. With all that muddin i did, there was no point in buying expensive bearings.

okcjeeper

Yep if you do any hardcore wheelin in mud and water and such not much point in the expensive stuff..You will be changing em out often anyways..same with u-joints no point in the high dollar ones if ya mud a lot or play in the sand a lot cause you will chop em up quick..My friend who has an XJ uses cheapo ujoints and bearing/hubs cause all he does is go play at the river and that sand eats them up fast..

I may have to do a cheap set of wheel bearings cause my front ones are starting to make that nasty growl grind..uhg.. and I can't afford the good ones at all till I get a job..

kmanxj5050

yup hubs!! i got my timkens from parts plus for like 102$ out the door compared to 140 at AZ

okcjeeper

Prices have gone up all the local shops sell them for around $140 now days. I have also noticed that the earlier 90 model hubs cost more then the later model ones..

99xjlove

Okay so tonight myself and a friend pulled the wheel bearings off of the jeep. I found exactly the opposite of what I thought I would. The Drivers side has been replaced, and it is the one with lugs that are the same as the rear. The passenger side has the longer studs but it looks O.E. So I'm going to take both of them to NAPA and see what I can come up with.



Here are a few pics for comparrison.



Driver side.









Passenger side









Both of them next to each other with rotors for comparison.