I have tried using the search option for this but, it just shows how to change a wheel bearing.. Im trying to diagnose if I need new wheel bearings! When I got my jeep 98 sport with 150k. Everything is stock from what i have observed..Even to the exhaust. It was never taken offroad before, . First thing I did when I got home was get it muddy like we all did.. Ever since then, my front driverside, wheel has this slight vibration, not a shake. And it has a howling sound at high speeds. not very loud or noticable, but to me it is and it wasnt like that before. My father is a mechanic of 30 plus yrs and said its most likely a wheel bearing. ( I am not at all questioning my fathers knowledge) Im just tyring to figure out if maybe something else is going on there.. So Im not chasing this problem. Do bearings usually go to ish together or is it usual they go at different times, bc my driver side does not have this vibration or howling sound...
TIA

 

Have you washed out the inside of the wheel to free up any packed in mud? That could cause an imbalance.

 

x2 on the mud, easy enough to check. Normally a bad bearing will get hot, you can feel it. It'd be a good idea to jack it up and give it a feel for looseness. Don't want it falling off!

 

What can I check to see if its hott?? Not the rim correct?? Cause that will be hott regardless from the brakes?? Should to check looseness from side to side at full tilt or side to side from drivers side to passenger?? Ill give it a good cleaning with the pressure washer this weekend

 

I'm still finding it hard to believe some fun killed the bearing that fast. Have you checked the axles to make sure they are filled with oil? You could have run the diff bearings dry and that would damage them.


Though, feeling the bearings for heat isn't accurate due to the brakes like you said. If the diff is filled with oil to rule that out, you may just want to change the hubs.

Or one more idea, have you checked the axle u joints to make sure there is no play in them causing the axle to vibrate from them being loose.

 

easy way to check the wheel hubs is to jack the tire off the ground, grab at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions and push in/out/up/down to see if you feel any play. if you got play you need need new hubs. I just replaced both of mine, passenger side was grinding really bad, the driver side was popping when hitting pot holes and bumps. replaced both, drives soooo smooth!!!! rockauto.com hella cheap parts if you dont mind waiting a couple days for shipping.

 

Rockauto.com is the shizzzzzzz

 

After 13 years and 150,000 miles it's not that big of a deal or expensive to do a little PM. Replace the unit bearing and axle shaft u-joint on both sides. Check all the front suspension parts too, if the upper ***** have not been lubed they are probably trashed.

 

Are you sure you didn't loose a wheel weight while playing in the mud?

 

K.I.S. Keep it simple first, I would get the tires all rebalanced, while they are doing the balance check for hub play. Grab the drive shaft and wiggle it while holding the hub still to check the axle ujoints. I just did axle ujoints and hubs on mine, no more noises and smooth as hot butter spread on bread. Good luck

 

it musta been mudd .. bc i got it up in the air and washed the wheels real good. checkd for any movement with the wheels, nothing.. everything looks/feels pretty solid , no slack in anything.. I didnt have any vibration while driving today.. I will see if it happens again.I plan on changing all the differential fluids.. here with my oil change, bc i hear getting the jeeps muddy, dirt and crud will get into the diff covers... thanks guys.. Ill come back if anyting changes