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99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum


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jagg1300
Novice

Dec 28, 2012, 2:17 PM

Post #1 of 17 (3592 views)
post icon 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

 1999 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 - 2 door, 220000 miles
I had a hum that changed w/speed. The dealer told me it was the wheel bearings. I bought the wheel hub/bearings and changed the driver side on day 1. The hum was almost gone. I changed the passenger side on day 2 and now the hum is back the way it was before any changes. Seems to be even louder.
I am wondering if I could have done something wrong or if there is a bad axel, etc. I am able to do 90% repairs myself but I'm not good at figuring out the problems.
I am poor so I hate to return to dealer and pay another $200 to have them tell me the problem.
Can anyone help?!!!!


Tom Greenleaf
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Dec 28, 2012, 4:51 PM

Post #2 of 17 (3555 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

You should be able to feel a bad bearing in your hands when off the vehicle to confirm it's bad. New Chinese junk can be and is way too often bad out of the box but any could.

Are tires or tire wear confusing this? No harm meant but if you can do the work why does diagnosing a bearing which can be tricky sometimes a problem. Many that are marginal you can't be absolutely sure till you feel them in hand or ones NOT THIS you can see, you see the flaws,

T


Discretesignals
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Dec 28, 2012, 5:03 PM

Post #3 of 17 (3551 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

Where did you get the replacement hub bearings?





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jagg1300
Novice

Dec 28, 2012, 7:36 PM

Post #4 of 17 (3537 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

I got the bearings from autozone, duralast brand. They seemed fine and spun without any problems. Maybe it is a bad bearing. But it just didn't seem bad.

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jagg1300
Novice

Dec 28, 2012, 8:14 PM

Post #5 of 17 (3534 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

It there a possibility that I tightened the hub, center nut too tight? That is the only thing I can think there.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 28, 2012, 8:15 PM

Post #6 of 17 (3530 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

No, you don't have that much power.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Sidom
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Dec 28, 2012, 9:19 PM

Post #7 of 17 (3515 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

Rotate the tires & see if that has any effect on the noise


Discretesignals
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Dec 29, 2012, 12:06 PM

Post #8 of 17 (3495 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

The axle nut torque is 165 ft/lbs.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Dec 29, 2012, 12:07 PM)


jagg1300
Novice

Dec 29, 2012, 6:38 PM

Post #9 of 17 (3481 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

 Yes, the book I have says 170 lbs but my wrench only goes to 160 so I set it, used it then gave it just a little more.
I pulled the hub off and checked everything again but still no luck. I guess I'll have to have a pro look at it and see if one of the new bearings is bad. I just can not tell if it is bad.


nickwarner
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Dec 29, 2012, 8:08 PM

Post #10 of 17 (3472 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

Take it for a drive and swerve it from left to right. See when the sound gets louder. By shifting the weight of the body from side to side increases and decreases the load. If it gets louder when you swerve to the left, you would be looking at the right hand bearing being bad because the weight of the truck is being shifted to the right.


jagg1300
Novice

Dec 31, 2012, 5:37 PM

Post #11 of 17 (3454 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

 Thanks for all the advice but nothing helps. I've tried it all. I am now concerned about it being an axle or something like that. I don't know if a u-joint would hum if it was bad. I think the dealer didn't check it out and only told me it was the wheel bearings.
I'll have to make an apt. to have it looked at some place else once I get paid.


Tom Greenleaf
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Jan 2, 2013, 3:14 AM

Post #12 of 17 (3437 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

A U-Joint should do a snapping sound. CV joints make a crackle especially when turning. Bearings make a hum like a tire issue. None of these are a perfect diagnosis but more common.

These things can make sounds, noises before they fall off the vehicle causing headaches that you don't want! That's why they make this stuff.....


Tom


jagg1300
Novice

Jan 6, 2013, 1:27 PM

Post #13 of 17 (3401 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

 I want to thank you all for the info. I took the advice of having my tires rotated. I have snow tires on the vehicle and they have 10000 miles on them. They were not rotated and I found out that the fronts wore unevenly and were "jumping" a little due to cupping and the uneven wear. This was causing the hum after the bearings were changed. Maybe even before but the dealer wanted the work? Just glad I changed them myself and saved hundreds!
I feel a little like a fool because I allowed the air pressure to get low (which helped wear the tires sooner), and didn't check this first. A very simple rule and fix that could have cost me lots by having others due the work. I preach tire pressure checks monthly but didn't listen to myself!


Tom Greenleaf
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Jan 6, 2013, 1:58 PM

Post #14 of 17 (3392 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

Once tires are cupped like that they won't get better. 4X4 and snows are going to need to be moved frequently even cross rotated unless they are directional tires,

T


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 6, 2013, 3:00 PM

Post #15 of 17 (3379 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

I managed tires stores for many years and the general rule is they will wear irregular on the free rolling axle and they will straighten out on the drive axle. It may take a while though.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Sidom
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Jan 6, 2013, 3:53 PM

Post #16 of 17 (3374 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

You know Desi....I never use to believe that until very recently.....I always went with the theory that once a tire developed a wear pattern it was there for good...

I put a set of used tires on my daughters car, very good thread but chopped up really bad, that actually was why they were getting replaced.....Man it was loud, real bad but she didn't wanna shell out money for new ones..... I road with her the other day and it was totally quiet. I made the comment "finally broke down & got differents ones huh....couldn't stand the noise?" and she said no...same tires, they just quieted down on their own... i didn't believe her and had to look.....same tires and the thread look real good.....almost worn out now but the cupping is gone


(This post was edited by Sidom on Jan 6, 2013, 3:54 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 6, 2013, 4:03 PM

Post #17 of 17 (3364 views)
Re: 99 tahoe 4x4 wheel bearing hum Sign In

Yep, I have corrected many of them that way. When mid size front wheel drives became popular in the mid 80's, I worked at a Uniroyal distributor and every single mid size GM car that didn't rotate for 10K or more came in blaming the tires, looking for warranty and i couldn't make adjustments on them so I had to rotate and explain the problem. It always happened right after they moved the rear tires to the front under the engine weight. 5K later, they would be quiet.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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