How do i check to see if my wheel bearings are going bad?

I was told both front wheel bearings were replaced when i bought the truck. But driving down the road and then hitting the brakes i hear a clicking noise coming from what sounds like a wheel bearing on both sides of the truck.

It started with the passenger side first and then it started doing it on both sides.

It has been doing this now since i have owned the truck with is going on 1 year.

If i am turning with the windows down i can hear it pretty loud. But everything in the front end feels and looks tight.

Has anyone else ran into a this problem of a clicking noise? I check the caliper brackets and pads also thinking they might be rocking in the bracket or the bracket it self was rocking but it is solid also.

 

anyone care to chime in?

 

check the control arm bushings. I replaced my driver wheel bearing not realizing it was the bushings. Have someone engauge it in fwd & reverse and watch the front axle above the front tire where the top control arm attaches to it. You should see very minimal movement clockwise/counter clockwise when braking. If it is moving, the noise is coming from the bushing bolt moving. Replace all the bushings. Factory bushings about $80 @ autozone. Aftermarket, I used skyjacker again.

 

Did you check the front axle ujoints behind the wheel bearings ????

 

That's what someone else has posted to check out. I guess i can put it in 4WD and turn a little back and forth to see if it's clicking or rising up and binding. Does that sound right.

 

Not sure how you would check them, but usually a clicking noise is indeed a u-joint. If you can hear it coming from both sides and you're sure it's not your front drive shaft u-joint, then I would go with it being the axle u-joints. Never had to replace, so not sure on the process for that.

 

Anyone know the process for changing these? I've done several in 1/2T Dodge's but never in a 3/4 or 1T. Are they similar? My folks have one going out and I'd like to help via phone (they live about 150 miles away) if I can.

 

see here.
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...=axle+u-joints

 

Thanks Josh,

I did a search for changing the U-joints but only looked in the 2nd gen forums so I missed it.

Of course my question now is are the 1st and 2nd gen's fairly similar? I'm guessing that other than the manual locking hubs they are close.

Thanks again,

Tony