Front Wheel bearings - a bad set??

[OldGray]

I recently replaced the front wheel bearings on my truck.  Bought National bearings, packed them properly and installed them.  Also new brake lines, calipers, pads.  Brakes are fine. 

But as I am slowing down before a turn, I hear this SHH-SHH-SHH-SHH sound that seems to be in line with the movement of the wheel.  Stepping on the brake does nothing to quiet it, so it isn't the pads, and I am not sure what else might rub.

Can't really spin the wheel good enough by hand when the front end's jacked up, so can't really tell that way.

Could I have gotten a bad bearing?  Cheap enough to replace again, but should be under warranty.

Any ideas of what it is?

Thanks

[Irish_Alley]

you should be able to turn the wheel by hand once its jacked up. i would inspect the brakes shounds like the caliper might not be sliding

[80Chevy4x4]

Another thing to check is it sounds like you didn't replace the rotors...double check and make sure that you didn't bend the dust shield a little bit and that is rubbing against the rotor....a lot of times this is the problem..  Let us know if yo find the problem.   

[OldGray]

OK - will check those.  The noise is driving me nutz 

I hope it is something simple.  I'd be thrilled if I didn't have to beat a new set of races into that hub!

[OldGray]

That statement about the Caliper not sliding hit home, so I went out and pulled the Caliper mounting bolts, cleaned and greased them and re-installed, and so far NO NOISE!!  Not ready to celebrate yet, because I have tried to fix it before but the noise re-appears out of nowhere.  But HOPEFULLY that was it.  THANK YOU!!!

[FlatBlack77]

this is kinda funny because I was coming here to make a thread exactly like this. EXACT same problem and sound. its not a grinding noise kindof a WISH WISH WISH sound. not when im going straight only going slowly around curves like a roundabout for example.

I installed Western Chassis drop spindles and this sound wasnt present beforehand. i cleaned and repacked all the bearings which looked fine and the calipers are only a year old.

wheels roll just fine when jacked up no sound at all

i am going to try this trick and see if it helps

[OldGray]

Yeah and the noise is just faint but you can hear it even with the windows up.  But mine happens when going straight as well.  And like I said I wasn't celebrating YET, because I am not convinced it is fixed... yet.

No noise when I have it jacked up and spin the wheel.

I drove it a bit more today and coulda swore it was coming back.  But we'll see.  I'll go for a long drive tomorrow.

[OldGray]

Made sure the calipers were still sliding - still have the noise.

Replaced the bearings AGAIN - still have the noise

Now I'm just PISSED.

Cannot think of anything else in the wheel that would be making noise - no "rub spots" anywhere.

Maybe bearings in the A/C compressor....    crap, who knows... 

[80Chevy4x4]

Ok what exactly is your truck? 2 or 4 wheel drive? and all the specs?

[FlatBlack77]

mine is a 77 C10. new western chassis drop spindles bearings are a few years old but looked to be in good condition.

OldGray, how did you preload your bearings? i am assuming you have a C10 not a K10. i torqued mine to 12lb/ft then backed off the nut to the next notch for the lock pin. i actually did this twice i had taken it apart to recheck the bearings and repeated the same process.

maybe thats not tight enough? what did you do lets solve this together!

[OldGray]

1979 Chevrolet Bonanza / 305 / LWB - 2wd.

With the bearings I tightened the nut finger tight but no play in the rotor (which is what I was told to do - see bottom of page).  And I do not think that the bearings were the source of the noise at this point.

And now I am thinking maybe a bearing in the A/C...?

This is a faint noise, and my truck is a very quiet truck.  NO rattles or squeaks at all.  So you have to really listen to hear it, but it is definitely there.

I described it as a SHH-SHH-SHH-SHH sound, similar to a brake pad hitting a slightly warped rotor.  But it is also similar to a dry bearing.

(EDIT - From my owner's manual:  "Tapered roller bearings used in this vehicle have
a slightly loose feel when properly adjusted. They must
never be over tightened (preloaded) or severe bearing
damage may result.")

[78-OrangeBigTen]

Are you sure it's not the speedo cable?  Mine jumps up until about 30 which is accompanied by a sound (shh shh shh).   At first I thought it was the bearings so I replaced my front hubs/ bearings/ rotors / and brakes.  Still there.  Disconnected my speedo from the back of the tranny and bingo gone.   You can try to see if that's the problem.  They have a tendency to dry out.  You can lubricate it but it will reoccur.  I replaced mine for under $20.   


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[OldGray]

I'm not sure of ANYTHING!  I will check it - thanks!

[hatzie]

I was taught to tighten the nut while turning the hub till the bearings just start to bind, then back off 1/6 to 1/4 of a turn to allow .001” to .007“ end play and then put the stamped cover over the nut and install the cotter pin to prevent the nut from backing off any more.

I doubt it's the wheel bearings.

Since it's faint and you can still hear it with the windows up it may be the speedometer cable. 
I use PJ1 Cable Lube but any motorcycle or snowmobile throttle cable lube will likely work.
I usually pull the whole cable out of the rig then pull the cable right out of the housing.  With the cable out hang up the empty housing over a catch can and spray a lot of cable lube through the empty housing and then on the cable itself.  If the housing is particularly filthy spray WD-40 through and on the cable then wipe it off before you spray the PJ1 through... 

You should be able to slide the cable right back through fairly easily turning slightly every so often.  If the cable hangs in the middle while re-inserting it in the housing the housing is worn out and you'll need a new cable assembly.

[OldGray]

78-OrangeBigTen - May the Gods of classic Trucks bless your every mechanical endeavor.

IT WAS THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE
WOO HOO, IT'S FIXED!!!
Went out to finish the installation of my Frantz Bypass Filter, and a friend stopped by, so I disconnected the Speedo cable at the Transmission, and then (without removing any of the dash) reached up behind the Speedometer and un-clipped and removed the cable at that end.

I hooked up a drill to the Trans end and ran it to turn the cable while my buddy sprayed in as much cable-lube as it could drink.  Buttoned it up and went for the quietest ride EVER!

As I said, my truck has absolutely NO squeaks or rattles, so now that the fliggin SHH SHH SHH SHH is gone it is as quiet as a mouse.

Thank God - now the hair I've been yanking out can start growing back.

FlatBlack 77 - You know what to do now!  Go check it!