Hey Mike,
First, why do you think one might be going bad? I would like for info as to why you think they might be bad?! Noise, tire/wheel loose? Front - Rear?
Front bearings are the easiest to deal with. DO NOT GET UNDER THE TRUCK - PERIOD! Jack up the front tires, one at a time. DO NOT REMOVE TIRES! Try to turn the tire ... it should rotate fairly easy (remember you have disc brakes that are lightly dragging)..ok.. now keep your hand on the tire while slowly rotating and feel for ANY rough spots or any rough or grinding feel..for this exercise we'll assume it rotates easily. Now grab, with both hands, each side of the tire (right/left) and try to shake/turn/agitate the tire, you are looking for "play" in the tire/wheel on the spindle... if there is NO play, (can't shake it and feel any clunking or slop).. and the tire rotates smoothly and doesn't have any rough "feel" to it... it's probably ok.
Rear - Jack up the rear differential.. .. Use jack stands for safety to keep the truck from rocking.. 4x4's will work, concrete blocks..
The rear bearings are inside the axle housing. These are a little harder to "feel" for a rough or grinding situation. When you get the truck up safely, try to feel for "play" in the axle while trying to pick the tire/wheel up and down.. you are feeling for play in a bearing.. work each rear tire north-south try to lift the tire/wheel only (without letting go) try to "lower" it.. if there is any play, the bearing might need to be replaced. Repeat other side. Repost with any info and progress
Thanks Steve.Reason I'm asking,driving home today and I can hear a loud noise,like snow tires turning on hot pavement.You can hear it getting louder and softer as the rpm' go up or down
Mike.. that MIGHT be the rear differential being low on gear lube!! Have it checked- or just have it changed!! Both if 4WD.
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You have to jack the vehicle off the ground, then grab each tire at the 12:00 and 6:00 positions. Then as hard as you can try to wiggle the tire up and down. If there is any movement then that wheel bearing needs to be replaced.
SOURCE: I have a 2002 dodgr ram 1500 2 wheel dr,how can I
Try to rock the tire side to side. Stand perpendicular to the vehicle, grab the top of the tire on both sides, one hand on each side, then shake away from then toward yourself several times. If you can feel any looseness, play, noise like clunking its loose or shot.
You can also jack up the front of the truck and spin the wheel by hand as fast as you can keeping your hand or fingers on the tire while it spins. If its bad it will feel different than the good side. You should be able to hear If the bearing is dry of grease or bad. It will grind, squeal, or just sound like its dragging.
It also my not spin as fast as the other wheel or my turn really slow.
I had a front go out at 80,000 miles on one side, the other never did go bad and it had 362,000 miles on it.
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