How to tell if the unit bearing is going bad?
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: VA
Previously I said (edited since):
Also, I assume that you are talking about the axle u-joints, not the driveshaft u-joints. Your truck has locking hubs, so unless you have the hubs locked in, or, are in 4 wheel drive, the front axles should not be spinning. If they are not spinning and your getting the noise, it's definately not the u-joints.
Sounding more & more like the hub bearing. The hub bearing has two bearings in it - the wheel bearing bearing & the needle bearing that supports the half shaft. If the needle bearing is bad the half shaft flops around in the bearing and also spins a little even when hubs not locked or in 4x4. This definately causes a vibration. Mine went out at 190K miles.
I was thinking about my Excursion when I wrote the above. Ram's don't have locking hubs.Sounding more & more like the hub bearing. The hub bearing has two bearings in it - the wheel bearing bearing & the needle bearing that supports the half shaft. If the needle bearing is bad the half shaft flops around in the bearing and also spins a little even when hubs not locked or in 4x4. This definately causes a vibration. Mine went out at 190K miles.
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From: La Verne, Ca
You put big tires on it, I bet it's a unit bearing. If it gets bad enough you'll need a tow truck so get it fixed while it still moves. Look for any signs of rust color coming from the u-joints. Sound changes with speed so probably not ball joints or stearing. If you don't find the problem, it will find you.
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From: Northern VA
Well it was the U-joints. The noise is gone. The drivers side was the worst of the two. The needle bearings had worn ridges into the U-joint. I didn't have a helper to try using the truck steering to press out the unit bearings so I used a 3-lb hammer and a socket extension. It took some time but and two shots to my thumb but the job is done.
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions!
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions!
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i know this an old thread but i have a question. i think that my wheel bearings are going south in my 03 2500 4x4. i did the wheel play test and had some play in them both, worse on the left side. also when turning slow like going around a corner or pulling into a driveway i can fell slight jerking like 4x4 is locked in but it's not. i have no bearing noise going down the road but an annoying squeaking at cruising speed; 40+ mph. its a manual shift t-case if that makes any difference. any help is always appreciated.
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