Guys, I’m thinking my rear wheel bearing is shot on my Chevy Silverado 1500..was coming home yesterday and I heard the awful noise coming from somewhere.. was thinking it was something to do with my ujoint that I recently replaced… it wasn’t shimming or shaking just a a strange sound coming from the wheels … I’d start pulling hard to the right.
I got it home and my first thought was wheel bearing… I checked the front 2, then went to the back, when I started pulling and pushing on the passenger side.. there was a little bit of play … I could move the wheel back and forth about 1/16 or so… it wasn’t shimming like I had a loose wheel that needed tightening.
Does that sound like the wheel bearing or do you guys think the whole axle shaft is shot?
I’ve never replaced one, and I googled it,,, looks like the tough part would be getting the old bearings itself out. and not screwing up the differential taking the shaft out.

There is end play in your rear axles, normal.

If its an axle bearing, swerving slowly, taking and putting weight on bad bearing will change the noise.

If its a pinion brg, on power and on coast will change the noise.

Carrier brgs usually keep a constant tone when doing all the above.

Check the return spring on the brake shoes. It rots and causes this type of symptom.
The part and others come in an inexpensive hardware kit that many
googan brake changers do not buy.

Mr Goodwrench replied while I was typing.
I will now shut up. lol

No,
You're right Wright, could very well be brakes.

I was just explaining how to diagnose a differential for bad bearings.

Yeah it drove me nuts the first time.
Spring was weak but not broken yet.
BFH + attitude found it.

I'm presently stuck in parasitic voltage drain.
Got any '69s for sale over there?

These have disc brakes in the rear ( please excuse my ignorance) but would these be only for drums or is there something under the rotor?? I’m only aware of brake pads on calipers

The parking brake is a drum style setup inside the disc brake rotor.

Well ya didn't say what year or color.
Lemme rephrase.
I'd make dang sure the brakes not hanging up before
tearing into the rearend.

Do I remember you having a brother
that runs an auto shop?
My Bros learned fast that I kept
GM parts on stock lol.
They all switched to GM and I didn't mind.

Good luck.

That have a really bad habit of rusting and falling apart! lol

It’s a 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 extended cab.
I have a brother in law who is a dirt track race car driver.. but I don’t want to bother him right now.. he’s going through some rough stuff right now mentally.

I’m 100 percent positive he could diagnose the problem…

Jack it up and see if its making a noise when you turn the tire/axle and see if you can pinpoint where it's coming from. It could be a number of things bearing,brakes, u joint, or the rearend.my dad had a strange noise coming from his truck years ago i got looking it over and it had a piece of gravel stuck between the caliper and rotor made alot of noise.

Sometimes it's best to bite the bullet and take it to someone in the biz.

We've had a number of them rust so bad the backing plate,needed replaced, they rubbed the rotor and made noise.

Check your u joints

I certainly appreciate the help guys… I’ll take a look when I get home tonight

It’s most certainly, the rear wheel bearing is, the seal is leaking horribly.
My brother in law told me to bring it over and he’s going to help me work on it.

It was used too much when it was new..

A few things.....Do both sides. The differential cover has to come off and fluid replaced to do it, just get them both done while it's apart. You'll need an axle bearing puller and slide hammer to remove them. You can likely rent the tool at your local parts store



Also, be prepared to find that the axle shaft itself is chewed up, if the bearing is damaged. If that's the case, you can either replace it, or use an axle saver bearing, which is just a combo seal/bearing that located the bearing rollers on a different undamaged part of the axle shaft. But, the rollers in them are usually a little smaller than the original. So if you use this truck to haul heavy stuff, I'd put in a new axle shaft and original style bearing.

Thanks for the tip,, I wasn’t aware that there was something like that.. praying that axle shaft isn’t toast…
My brother in law suggested that we work on both sides while the punkin cover is off..

He’s a dirt track race car driver who has a full shop and even has a lift. He’s got all kinds of toys,, more than likely a bearing puller.
He got upset with me because I didn’t ask him for help.. I told him that I didn’t want to be a pest,, because he has other things going on in his life.

I had this pickup gave to me,, so I’m finding out things here and there that need addressing… but overall, it’s still a decent pickup.

Tip him well kidd.
I WISH for a guy like him in my world.

that that is it and what was making me scratch my head , seal leaking terribly is about the only reason you wear out a bearing on a GM 1500 1999-2006



because if it is covered in 90 weight it is really hard to wear them out.

the next question is if you leaked out all that oil , how bad is the entire axel and is it worth a junk yard axle rather than a set of wheel bearings , find one still full of oil without leaking seals

I just sold my 2004 gm 1500 for parts , but there are a lot more out there with rusted bodies and fine axel

I guess I’m gonna find out how bad the damage is when we tear into it. It just started making noise,,, so maybe there’s a chance everything is still decent.