axle bearings?

**Fred H.** · 05-01-2008, 06:23 PM

Looks like my pinion bearing are going out too. Took it to a transmission shop and they listened with a stethoscope. I thought it was the axle bearings, but they said the noise is coming from the pinion bearing. Gonna have em pull it apart and replace it tomorrow.

**Fred H.** · 05-02-2008, 10:11 AM

FYI, tore into the rear end today. Pinion bearing is bad. But also discovered both axles are scored at the wheel bearing surfaces. So what started out as a $200 job has turned into a $1,000 job.

I am having both axles replaced along with pinion bearings, carrier bearings, and wheel bearings. Essentially all the bearings in the rear are getting replaced.

So far I have owned the car a whole week. Sure hope there aren't any other problems waiting to surface...

**Orcus79** · 05-02-2008, 11:21 AM

Keep a close eye on those axle seals after you replace the bearings. I went through three sets before current ones finally held. It sucked big time.

**mrz28m6** · 06-14-2008, 11:16 AM

hey guys i'm having issues getting the pinion bolt out! it seems torqued pretty good?? its not reverse thread is it? any ideas on how to get this out??

**nosvet** · 06-14-2008, 06:24 PM

What intailed in the pinion bearing fix? Mine is making a howling noise that does not change with side to side loading and the center front seal is leaking?

**ksulkosky** · 07-01-2008, 10:02 AM

yeah you should set the preload properly and check the backlash

**Spikito** · 08-31-2008, 08:40 PM

ok so i think my bearings are bad, but i dunno, my shop said theyd check it out, but its gonna be like $200 just for them them too look at it.

I keep getting a really loud hum when im in the throttle, usually at low speeds. it doesnt always do it, but it does it most often i do something like pull into a driveway and have to do like a 4 point turn around. it really gets my back wheels turning at different speeds, then when i take off straight again, the humming gets loud then goes away.

itll also do it if i drive real fast for awhile, stop, then drive normal.

**Speed_kills_WS6** · 01-10-2009, 01:16 PM

I have a problem with a noise coming from the rear. Sounds like brakes almost, but its definitely a wheel bearing or something in the differential. Fluids not low. Does it all the time, regardless of speed, just depends on whether my exhaust drowns it out.

**aerojt** · 07-13-2009, 01:17 PM

Does anybody know what it means when I have that flat tire sound when I make right hand turns? I am thinking it is a wheel bearing because it only does it when I turn one way, to the right. Just had new tires put on and the noise is still there. I'm thinking right wheel bearing.... Any way I could check before I take it all apart?

**Spikito** · 07-13-2009, 08:34 PM

you can pick your car up and try to wiggle the tire...kinda the same way you wiggle it off the studs...but dont loosen anything.

Ive never personally done this, but I'm sure everything is supposed to stay still. My cars always have.

**aerojt** · 07-14-2009, 03:53 PM

I tried that and had no trouble. Any other ideas on how to diagnose?

**Spikito** · 07-14-2009, 05:44 PM

thats the only thing I know of besides taking them out and inspecting

**01ws6er** · 07-17-2009, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by aerojt

I tried that and had no trouble. Any other ideas on how to diagnose?

did you read the thread and descriptions on how to replace wheel bearings...? Seems like it owuld be a wheel bearing by what you described but if ya wanna know for sure you could take it to a mechanic.

**JayTA98** · 05-04-2010, 06:59 PM

so no one had good luck with aftermarket axle bearings and seals? i'm changing mine soon but I got the bearings form NAPA the $ 22 dollar ones. I got the seals from autozone. Should I return them?

How much do the GM bearings and seals cost?

**rkh3** · 05-16-2010, 04:25 PM

Owned my t/a three weeks and was getting a noise from the rear, turned out to be the pinion bearing, car has 68k on it. I'll tackle certain things but as Clint Eastwood said, "a man has to know his limitations", I brought it to my mechanic. I don't have the patience nor the time to do it myself. Had him replace all the bearings in the differential, $500 later it is nice and quiet. Good thing I bought the car at a good price, between 4 new tires and this $1,100 so far. Oh and $60 for a drivers door window motor and $70 for a headlight motor. Gotta love GM quality, but I knew that when I bought it.

**JayTA98** · 05-16-2010, 05:42 PM

I had mine check and they told me that the pinion gears are good. So lucky me i just have to replace the axle bearings. I'm hoping the axle shaft are in good condition. If not I need new axles too

**pajeff02** · 05-16-2010, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by JayTA98

I had mine check and they told me that the pinion gears are good. So lucky me i just have to replace the axle bearings. I'm hoping the axle shaft are in good condition. If not I need new axles too

They make a "repair bearing" that rides on a different part of the axle in the event yours are damaged. One caveat though, at least one person on here has had an issue with axle removal after repair bearings were installed on his car. They wouldn't press in far enough to release the c-clip.

**JayTA98** · 05-16-2010, 08:56 PM

Yeah I read about it. i think i will stay away from the repair ones.

**Zedtwentyeight** · 05-17-2010, 02:17 AM

Originally Posted by JayTA98

Yeah I read about it. i think i will stay away from the repair ones.

Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. i was frustrated as hell because of the repair bearing that was in the car - wouldnt let me get c clip out. but i put one back in because it would have taken me 6 days to get a new axle and im not patient. Also i figured, if i have to pull this thing apart again, i'll be doing more work to it anyway and wont mid cutting a few things.

So far the repair bearing is seated perfectly and working very well - timken from autozone.