I have a loose wheel causing vibrating. Im thinking its bearings... Should i replace both sides in the front? and should i replace anything else while I have the whole hub off... The truck has just under 160,000. Also any specialty tools i should pick up?
I agree, I don't think that bad bearings would cause a loose wheel and vibration but bad ball joints will.
Jack up the wheel that you think is bad then grasp the top and bottom of the wheel and see if you can rock it back and forth. If it moves noticeably then it is the ball joints.
Is it 4 wheel drive or 2 wheel drive? Are you sure the ball joints are good and solid? (Not the U-Joint if its a 4 wheel drive) - If the ball joints are OK - It could be the bearings. You will have to pull the hub off and do an inspection.
I've never heard of loose bearings. Usually when the bearings go bad you get a lot of noise and then they lock up. If everything isn't tight in them they usually just destroy themselves.
I agree Bugman. Usually a bearing problem quickly causes catastrophic results to the integrity of the wheel hub action - especially rotation - let alone side / up and down "play" in the hub.
In my experience - side to side "play" = usually tie rod
Up and down "play" = ball joints.
So I replaced the wheel bearing before i saw all your posts... The wheel doesnt have any play now... I still have the vibrating sound when i get up to 60 mph... and right before i come to a stop its kinda shaky...
I did just get some new tires put on... Maybe they are out of balance...
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