Installed new wheel bearings... QUESTION.

uncc civilengineer

uncc civilengineer

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Joined
Jun 28, 2006
Location
Pfafftown, NC
Ok.. I know my wheel bearings were bad.. leaking, noisey, etc..

I replaced both on my Big Bearing Ford 9" w/ Timken Set20's... I reinstalled the shafts and everything spun freely..

I reinstalled my calipers, driveshaft, etc. and took it down the road. Now I'm getting a vibration at around 45mph? ANY IDEAS?


UPDATE: I removed the rear shaft and drove it down the road... no vibrations other than a locked front screaming ... SO i'm thinking it's the rear shaft. The joints feel tight however, it's an Xterra w/ no SYE w/ a SOA lift and obviously 1 peice shaft... but that seems pretty common from my reading..

I measured and I have barely 1" of spline contact between the slip joint on the DS and the t-case output shaft. There is approximately 4" of splines inside the slip joint on the shaft... This seems to have been allowing lateral play in the slip yoke... I'm thinking that if I lenghten the rear shaft I should be good? Sound right?

I guess i'll give that a try first before going SYE and new 2-peice shaft... The previous owner put significant miles on it like this.. however it was approximately 1.5" lower and I'm think everything being lose/worn out kind of hid/masked the problem... And well now it's showing itself full force...
 
When you unbolted the drive shaft is it possible you didn't get the u-joint caps in between the little tabs on the yoke when you tightened the straps down and its letting the shaft move? I'm not sure about why its hard to turn but that may explain the vibes.
 
I'll check that... I'm pretty sure the joint is between the tabs though...

I think the hard to turn deal is just 35's, and the brakes touching a little... It spun freely w/o the calipers / tires on...
 
Did you pull the DS apart and get it out of phase?
 
2 peice shaft is ballenced in line with all parts same place. if you pull 1 half off and dont mark it and install it back in the wrong order it will vibrate.

vary comon newby mistake. :shaking:
 
sweetk30 said:
2 peice shaft is ballenced in line with all parts same place. if you pull 1 half off and dont mark it and install it back in the wrong order it will vibrate.
vary comon newby mistake. :shaking:
Click to expand...

Thanks... I must have misunderstood the the other post.. I did not completely pull the shaft apart from the t-case...

I'll check the phasing anyway when I get home but I dont think that's the issue... i'll probably just pull the shaft and replace the joint after i drive it around w/ the shaft removed and see if that rememdies the problem..



I was more concerend that "I may have" installed something wrong w/ the bearings... If that were the case would I only get vibrations around 45 or so... or would I have a noticible issue really quickly?
 
Out of curosity... could the rear brakes hanging a little cause vibrations to come on around 40-45? Or would it be a constant vibration..

I'm starting to think that since I installed new spring packs the rear was lifted about 1.5-2 inches... maybe a U-joint as almost bad.. now the new pinion angle is magnifying the problem...
 
you say the joints are tight ?

if so then prob getting worn out and stiff. wont flex right .

a good ujoint should flop around real easy no binding. but no play tho.

if the joint is installed and stiff it will never free up. or if old and stiff its on its whay out.


i have seen worn out stiff joints cause a vibration in the drive line.
 
x2 on the phasing but also try removing driveshaft from diff and rotate 180 degrees
 
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