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Wheel bearing sound at about 30mph... but is it the wheel bearing?

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Old Feb 24, 2010 | 06:36 PM
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Default Wheel bearing sound at about 30mph... but is it the wheel bearing?

when I got the caliper off and everything this evening, I tried spinning the hub to hear the bad bearing, bit I heard no issue at all. at 30 mph and up I get a whining that sounds like a bad bearing, it comes from the drivers side, but it was sorta coming thru the floor. Would something going bad in the differential make this same sound also?
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Old Feb 24, 2010 | 07:21 PM
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a bearing usually makes a growl noise, does noise change left to write when driving, also you can put the jeep up on jack stands safely front and rear put in drive and and run it up to 30 mph should hear it then might make easier to find
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Old Feb 24, 2010 | 07:30 PM
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yeah this is the same noise that a wheel bearing makes, except no change in left to right... it has me a tad worried that it might be the differential, I almost have the hub out now, so I guess we will see
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Old Feb 24, 2010 | 07:59 PM
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i thoughit was the diff also but it was a bad wheel bearing
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Old Feb 25, 2010 | 03:55 PM
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Got the new bearing in, the issue is the differential, now are there any specific issues that could cause this whine, or is my differential just pretty much done for?
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Old Feb 25, 2010 | 03:59 PM
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Pull your front driveshaft and see if the noise is still there. The centering ball needing grease makes a sound too many guys think is a wheel bearing or other issue.
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Old Feb 25, 2010 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by dirtmod0
a bearing usually makes a growl noise, does noise change left to write when driving, also you can put the jeep up on jack stands safely front and rear put in drive and and run it up to 30 mph should hear it then might make easier to find
Not exactly, sounds good in theory. But if you take the weight off of the wheel bearing, 99% of the time the bearing will make no noise whether its good or bad.
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Old Feb 25, 2010 | 06:28 PM
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that way is almost full proof for us at work,yet this is only on front wheel drive vehicles
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Old Feb 25, 2010 | 06:35 PM
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pull the diff cover and take a look. you may find your problem right off the bat. if not reseal the cover and refill. maybe it needed an oil change anyway.
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Old Feb 25, 2010 | 07:53 PM
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Well I pumped out the old grey fluid, and refilled with semi-synthetic 75w-90, it is still there along with the new bearing, my dad suggested an old trick of pure stp / thicker weight oil to make it go away until I can afford to fix it. Or I also go to thinking that maybe an alignment will fix it cuz the tires are off I know that
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Old Feb 25, 2010 | 07:58 PM
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grey fluid is not a good sign. you may be shaving metal off the ring and pinion or loosing a diff bearing.
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Old Feb 26, 2010 | 01:08 AM
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Well, from what i'm reading, does anyone know how much these things cost to get rebuilt?
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Old Sep 29, 2015 | 04:25 PM
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Default Rear diff noise

RE: Well, from what i'm reading, does anyone know how much these things cost to get rebuilt?

as soon as I replaced my rear leaf springs, and had the rear diff serviced. Rear end started making crazy noises. replaced the springs with OEM due to it sagging and its not getting lifted. spent $2100 to rebuild the diff. 5k miles later noise came back, they warrantied the pinion bearing. but just picked it back up, noise is still there at 30mph and up. After they said that was the problem and fixed it, for the 2nd time, its going back.

Its been a pain, done with playing musical cars.
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