how do you check front wheel bearings

[mojo]

car was parked in driveway for a couple of days, when i went to move it wheel fell off, replaced the bearing assembly, the car still drives perfect doesnt pull or vibrate, nor did it before it fell off, is there any way to check these periodically. this is my first vette and Im just beginning to get acuainted with repairing it...car has 58000 miles excellent condition

 

[RedRagTop]

Welcome to...

You mean your wheel fell completely off? You're kidding, right?
No signs leading up to this catastrophic failure?
Ouch...

 

[ness5353]

probably better check the other 3.....

a tire falling off at speed would do major damage to a fiberglass body.

 

[JonM]

Anyone mad at you lately?

 

[4U2NV1986]

Sounds like an Auto Zone bearing. When the wheel fell off, did it take the hub assm. with it? Knowing how these bearings are made, the entire housing had to go with it or you somehow sheared off the four bolt that mount it to the knuckle.

 

[drags1998]

Now, Hold on a minute,Are you telling us,The front wheel,and the wheel bearing JUST FELL OFF YOUR CAR!!!!!!! With no notice??? I find the fact that it JUST FELL OFF! hard to believe!! Now if just the tire & wheel fell off,either someone has screwed with it,or you drove it with a loose wheel.Sorry Man, thats how I see it!!!!!!!!!!:confused

 

[BigRed]

Whoa buddy check the other 3 man LOL imagine that happening at 100 Mph.

Now EXACTLY describe what was still with the wheel when it came off.

Was it 1/2 of the bearing and the other 1/2 was still on the hub? (your missing a VERY large bolt here)

Fill us in or better take pictures! LOL

 

[mojo]

I purchased the other three today,

The four bolts holding the assem to the control arm were intact the assem was sheared between the hub flange and the assem. The car drove correct before I had just driven it on highway a couple of days before.

The only thing still connected to the wheel was the rotor and hub. The rest was connected to the control arm the wheel was supporting the car by the bottom of the control arm which cut a nice groove in the wheel.

And no, havent had significant problem with anyone except couple of ex-wives.......

 

[kenwa]

I second that request for pictures. I'm baffled. Did the spindle shear off? I've never heard of that happening, but I have heard of a ball joint suddenly coming apart. Not pretty.

Ken

 

[oldace84]

I've said this before. Upon buying my vette I replaced all the bearings front and back. Even ball joints.

tony

 

[unleadedbrew]

Can see it now..........Highway cruisin' at 80 or better and then (to paraphrase Tony) Shiny side up, shiny side down, shiny side up, shiny side down OWEEEE!!!

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Need photos!!!

What state were the actual bearings in?

Was the bearing GM OEM? If so GM would love to get their hands on it. A catastrophic failure of the hub without the bearings first seizing could lead to a major law suit and recall program.

I had a rear wheel bearing freeze up on the ´82 at about 80MPH. The car tried to spin and it chewed up the tire a bit but nothing broke.

I am sitting here now looking at the front hub I just replaced on the ´90 and can not wrap my mind around how yours broke. Please post some pictures.

 

[4U2NV1986]

wheel bearing???

The only logical thing about your problem is that the bolts sheared off at the knuckle (right?). Leading to maybe that the bottom two bolts were not torque'd to the proper spec's, leaving the wheel to hang loose from the bottom two bolts and breaking the bottom two mounting bolt holes. If anything, the front end should have felt like bubble gum before the wheel fell off.......:confused

Find the bearing Mfg. fast and let us know who made it...... This can't happen knowing how the bearing is actually made in conjunction with the relationship with the knuckle mounting. Stub pull through is impossible. A junky cast, coupled with lousey install technique sounds like the problem. Do yourself a favor, replace them all with USA grade AC Delco.

 

[mojo]

replaced them all and seems to have sheared off at "spindle"

 

[86PACER]

car was parked in driveway for a couple of days, when i went to move it wheel fell off,

Better it happened then than on the freeway. It would have been a catastrophy. Wow!