Vibrations and rear tire play, wheel bearing?

[pantherchams]

Hi guys,

I am trying to track down a vibration that seems to be getting worse. You can kind of feel it in the passenger seat, but it is mostly in the steering wheel. It occurs between about 45-65 mph.

I finally jacked up the car and found I need new carrier bearings and probably need to adjust the backlash at the rear diff. The most obvious cause of my problem, I think, was play at the rear passenger wheel. I can move it a fair amount (maybe 1/16-1/8" at the tire). It is vertical play, as in if I put a hand at the top and bottom of the tire and push and pull I get play. It looks to me like it moves until the rotor hits the brake pads.

I can't find play in any suspension parts, not even in the adjustable control arms.

Question: Does this sound like a bad wheel bearing?

Anything else to check before I replace? And does anyone have a part number for the assembly? Alot of the parts stores list the same number for turbo/na, which can't be right.

Thanks!
Ben

[DocWalt]

Bad wheel bearing(s) There's two on the rear axles, an inner and an outer.

[pantherchams]

Sweet thanks!

Are they pressed in? If I don't have access to a press do you think I'm better off getting the whole unit, or can you even get that? I guess Ill call NAPA tomorrow.

Ben

Bad wheel bearing(s) There's two on the rear axles, an inner and an outer.

[WidowMaker]

I would agree that it sounds like a wheel bearing issue. You should get the rear axle shaft (which comes with the new inner bearing already on it) and also get the outter bearing. Be careful to seat them in straight and without bashing the bearing hard.
Good luck
-Steve

[jba3]

Same thing my car did when my rear wheel bearing was shot. Shop around, I paid $1k to get it replaced, but it was 3 days before my wedding and I needed it done .... but I know I overpaid a mountain worth.

[pantherchams]

Same thing my car did when my rear wheel bearing was shot. Shop around, I paid $1k to get it replaced, but it was 3 days before my wedding and I needed it done .... but I know I overpaid a mountain worth.

Ouch! Ill do it myself, just not familiar with the setup in the rear so want to make sure I get the right parts. It was suggested it may be a worn control arm bushing. Could that cause the play I described?

[DocWalt]

If it was a worn control arm bushing you'd feel the play in the suspension. Steve got it right with the inner & outer.