My '99 Cavalier (50K miles) failed its NYS safety inspection, for a "bad hub bearing". So, I tested this the way I used to test wheel bearings: jack it up, and feel for play in the wheel. I don't find any. There is what looks like a bad tie-rod, on the other side. This gives some play in the alleged bad wheel, but you can see the movement all the way back to the steering wheel.
Anyway, is there some magical way of testing hub bearings that I'm missing?
TIA, George
George:
All of them I have seen have been making noise. Would the bearing have slack without making noise? Dunno-hope someone can answer that. Respectfully submitted,
Loren Knighton Woodland, CA.
Under the hood since 1964 Member TRNI IATN
Yo dude.
In my experience saftey inspectors regularly misdiagnose excessive play problems. Probably he just felt the wheel like you did but without looking at the steering linkages and guessed it might be the bearings. Though I don't know why the other side wasn't picked up also.
I've had a loose steering rack and a loose bearing together being reported as two loose tie rod ends. Another car was claimed to have a loose lower ball joint, I replaced the wheel bearings instead and it passed the check OK.
As long as they find something loose it's not worth their time narrowing it down accurately.
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required