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Old 07-27-2009, 05:57 PM
partyman66 partyman66 is offline
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Just because it shakes in between 50 and 75 MPH doesn't mean it's a wheel bearing. In fact, I wouldn't even really categorize that as a primary symptom of a bad wheel bearing at all. Usually the most obvious and immediately noticeable drivability symptoms of a bad wheel bearing is that when you take a hard sweeping corner in one direction, the opposite side wheel will make a droning/humming noise(Ex. turning hard right, the left side wheel will make the noise). If it's to the point where it is vibrating on the highway, you probably shouldn't be driving the car until you get the wheel bearing replaced.

The best way to test if it is a wheel bearing is to park your car with the E-brake on and in gear, jack up one side of the front end and grab the wheel at 12 and 6 O'clock and try to see if there is any play in the wheel when you apply opposite pressure on each hand(example: push in on the wheel with your top hand on the outside of the top of the wheel, and then pull out on the bottom of the wheel from the inside of the tire/wheel with your other hand at the same time.... then switch and do the opposite). If you notice any play whatsoever when doing this, you need a new wheel bearing on that wheel. Make sure you check both sides of the car too... each wheel has its own wheel bearing and one might be gone, while the other is perfectly good.

Don't risk it by driving on bad wheel bearings... your wheel could fall off on you while you're driving and cause a huge accident. They usually check wheel bearings when you go for your inspection sticker(depending on what state you live in).

Vibrations from your front end at that speed might be caused by an out-of-balance wheel, a warped or cracked rim, or a warped rotor on one or both of the front brakes.
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