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Chevrolet Express
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Wheel bearing - front left or right???

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Old Nov 20, 2018 | 4:44 PM
  #1  
Frugal Dave's Avatar
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Default Wheel bearing - front left or right???

2011 Chevy Express 2500 4.8L

Driving down the road it sounds like I'm driving on a steel grate bridge deck, doesn't change with winter or all season tires.
This has been going on for at least 70,000k, thought it was the tires.
When travailing straight or turning right the noise and vibration persists.
Cornering left, the sound goes away.
I can't feel any excess play or roughness with the wheel off the ground.

1. Is this a front wheel bearing?
2. How can I tell if it's the left or right bearing.

Thanks for reading.
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Old Nov 20, 2018 | 8:10 PM
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Mine went on the way to work one day and it was a sound only thing.....a scoring sound that you cannot really change or alter....
The bearings on hubs with removable discs last around 60k miles or so give or take....they are crap compared to the bearings inside a solid hub/rotor assembly from 2002 and back. You cannot pack, grease them or service them.....throwaway parts only.
Telling which side isn't necessary because you should do both sides for sure.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiXk8Kns-TeAhUzNn0KHW1lBDgQFjAJegQIAhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBearing-Assembly-Express-Savana-515059%2Fdp%2FB006WQR9CS&usg=AOvVaw3nkgwQm9zGz9wat31QUpI7 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiXk8Kns-TeAhUzNn0KHW1lBDgQFjAJegQIAhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBearing-Assembly-Express-Savana-515059%2Fdp%2FB006WQR9CS&usg=AOvVaw3nkgwQm9zGz9wat31QUpI7

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Old Nov 20, 2018 | 9:46 PM
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raise the front wheels and spin the tires by hand...if they are as bad as described you should hear it growl. I don't replace good parts...if the other side goes replace it then. it may last 2 weeks or 2 years.
turning left loads the right bearing...so the right MAY be the bad one....but this is not always the case...depends on which side in the sealed bearing is bad.
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Old Nov 21, 2018 | 12:06 AM
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I love the experience here. Great posts.
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Old Nov 21, 2018 | 12:54 AM
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I would just lift all the wheels and check for noise and play. Or walk along beside the vehicle while rolling and listen. Only replace the side that's needed.
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Old Nov 21, 2018 | 3:34 PM
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Thanks for everyone's help. It's going into the shop tomorrow and I'll see what's what.
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