Front end Vibration - Wheel Bearings?

[jbeazell]

Hello all,

I have what I believe to be a bad bearing on my passenger side front wheel. I have some play, in all directions, on that tire when I put it on a jack. The vibration has been getting worse over the last few months. It started as a very slight vibration at about 45 mph. Now it is larger, starting at about 25, and going up through 70. It only happens when I'm applying the throttle. I have no bad sounds coming from the front end at all. The problem seems to be exaggerated when turning left so that the weight of the vehicle is being applied to the passenger-front wheel.

Could it be an issue with the CV joint? The boot hasn't ruptured, but the end seal has come loose and it spit bearing grease all over the place (including the serpentine belt - ugh). This is also not giving me any noise in corners, or at all.

I'm just thrown by the complete lack of noise on this.

thanks!

 

[melsg5]

if you feel the play when holding the tire at the 12 and 6 positions it's the bearing.

 

[jbeazell]

Thanks. I'm just used to them making noise when they start to die

 

[Torch]

Usually, a bad wheel bearing is loudest when turning. If turning right, the bad bearing is on the left wheel, and vice versa. That matches your description. I have seen situations where the axle nut was not tightened to spec and that caused the noise.

If the issue was with a CV joint, you would hear it at very low speeds. Sounds like a bad bearing to me.