I'm trying not to make this into a rant, but looks like this is what it's going to come out as, so bare with me.
Last summer, the wagon started making a squeaking noise that can only come from metal rubbing metal, but a squeak, definitely not a grind. After doing a bit of reading online, all points were aimed at the wheel bearings simply needing a regreasing, and I figured, hey, since I'll be out getting new wheel bearings, I may as well get new rotors. So, after about $125 at Auto Zone, I had me 2 front rotors, 2 inner and 2 outer wheel bearings with races, 2 seals, 2 jars of high temp wheel bearing grease, a seal puller, a set of brass taps just in case the rotors did not come with bearing races already in them, which luckily, they did come with, but just in case, and a packet of cotter pins. Time went by, wheel bearings done on both sides, drove around, dad took the car for the weekend, perfect, no more squeak, no worries...
Three weeks later, squeak is back, same kind of squeak, and just like before, gets louder the faster the car goes or the more the wheels are turned as they're moving. OK, that seemed a little odd, but it happens, so I go and re-do both sides, and low and behold, I drive the car around the block, everything's perfect, nice and quiet, car actually feels kind of better, but maybe it was just me.
Two more weeks go by, and....... here comes that squeak again! My first guess would be that I'm not greasing them enough, but I don't think that's what I did wrong because I packed those bearings with a special bearing packer from Sears, I rotated the rotor as I tightened the castle nut to make sure they sit right and spread grease all over inside, even after I put the castle nut on, I still stuffed even more grease in there, and still that noise comes back.
Now, a little side information. The first time, I had Timken bearings on both sides, the second time around, I have Timken in the right and NAPA brand in the left because there were no Timkens in stock, both sound equal. Upon inspection, the bearing races are smooth as silk and do not have indentations in them.
At this point, I'm considering just leaving them be, but you all know how one little imperfect thing can ruin the rest of the car and definitely make you feel like it has to be fixed, immediately. I want to fix them already because this is driving me up the wall here and I'm wondering if any of you guys could may be notice something that I missed or maybe you know a trick that I'm not aware of, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Last summer, the wagon started making a squeaking noise that can only come from metal rubbing metal, but a squeak, definitely not a grind. After doing a bit of reading online, all points were aimed at the wheel bearings simply needing a regreasing, and I figured, hey, since I'll be out getting new wheel bearings, I may as well get new rotors. So, after about $125 at Auto Zone, I had me 2 front rotors, 2 inner and 2 outer wheel bearings with races, 2 seals, 2 jars of high temp wheel bearing grease, a seal puller, a set of brass taps just in case the rotors did not come with bearing races already in them, which luckily, they did come with, but just in case, and a packet of cotter pins. Time went by, wheel bearings done on both sides, drove around, dad took the car for the weekend, perfect, no more squeak, no worries...
Three weeks later, squeak is back, same kind of squeak, and just like before, gets louder the faster the car goes or the more the wheels are turned as they're moving. OK, that seemed a little odd, but it happens, so I go and re-do both sides, and low and behold, I drive the car around the block, everything's perfect, nice and quiet, car actually feels kind of better, but maybe it was just me.
Two more weeks go by, and....... here comes that squeak again! My first guess would be that I'm not greasing them enough, but I don't think that's what I did wrong because I packed those bearings with a special bearing packer from Sears, I rotated the rotor as I tightened the castle nut to make sure they sit right and spread grease all over inside, even after I put the castle nut on, I still stuffed even more grease in there, and still that noise comes back.
Now, a little side information. The first time, I had Timken bearings on both sides, the second time around, I have Timken in the right and NAPA brand in the left because there were no Timkens in stock, both sound equal. Upon inspection, the bearing races are smooth as silk and do not have indentations in them.
At this point, I'm considering just leaving them be, but you all know how one little imperfect thing can ruin the rest of the car and definitely make you feel like it has to be fixed, immediately. I want to fix them already because this is driving me up the wall here and I'm wondering if any of you guys could may be notice something that I missed or maybe you know a trick that I'm not aware of, any help would be greatly appreciated.
