Hey all, i know this topic has been discussed a billion times, but im still not positive that my wheel bearing is shot... also nissan considers wheel bearings under drivetrain so thats why i posted here.... so recently while driving ive been hearing this thumping noise from the passenger front.... it sounds like a blown strut kind of, but i just replaced my suspension with pss10's so theres no way its the strut... i jacked my car up and the wheel has a lot of play, but not up and down play (camber play), but side to side play (would effect toe).... from what ive heard usually its got up and down play if its the bearing and theres a metal grinding noise, which i dont have.... also steering wheel isnt loose when driving at higher speeds.... i hear the thump sound when the suspension is being compressed.... can any one help me out here?? Is this some sort of steering component thats shot or is it in fact the wheel bearing??

 

Side to side play is usually a tie rod issue. The clunking noise could be a bad strut mount or sway bar link that broke. Check those and hopefully you get it figured out.

 

A bearing will have play up down and side to side. Easy way to check is if the rotor is moving inside the bracket.

The caliper is fixed to the spindle, rotor to the other side of the bearing. Play between the two is all in the bearing

 

What terrasmak just said.

 

There should be no play at all. Did you run over a pot hole or a large rock? Depending on the bearings that were deformed I would think the play could be in any axis...

 

op, sounds like a compression rod. the bushing inside gets shot pretty easily. happened to my old g35 sedan. out of curiosity, how many miles are on your car?

 

Yea I have gone over a few good potholes cuz I live in ny and the roads here r absolutely terrible!! I've recently gotten a flat from hitting a pothole on the wheel from which the noise is coming from now, which made me think its the strut, but they're brand new.... the car 58000 miles on it... I really don't know what it could be and what to look for.... so would taking the wheel off and putting the lugs on just the rotor hat and checking for play would indicate bearing failure??

 

No need to pull the wheel off , just jack the car , look at the caliper , wiggle if the caliper/bracket stays still and the rotor has play , it is a bearing. Takes less than 5 minutes.

 

Bearings usually make a loud roaring sound at highway speeds. If you have a "clunk" it's more likely you have a bushing going out somewhere. As someone said earlier the compression rod bushings go out all the time. SPL makes a solid one.

 

Any way to check if its a bushing?? Don't wanna get charge at a shop just fir checking it....

 

Gotta get that wheel off the ground and start wiggling stuff. If you feel excessive play anywhere then you gotta just start looking for split bushings. Helps to have a buddy for this one.

 

Figured out what it was.... had a buddy wiggle the wheel while i was under the car and saw that the lower control arms ball joint has a sh$t ton of play to it..... gotta replace that asap.... anyone know where to get a good one, i searched online and only found cheap ac delco ones.... also has anyone replaced this, is it a hard job??

 

Plenty have replaced it, usually they just throw the ebay China ones in with good results. Also do the whiteline bushings while your in there.

 

daggghhhh f$ck..... replaced the ball joint and the problem persists.... got no idea what it could be...

 

The compression rod bushings are known for going out pretty quick on these cars.