I'm hoping this is an appropriate place for tech support.

I'm have a strange noise in my front driver side wheel. I'm hoping it's not the ITR tranny I bought from a dealer (~28k miles now).

I jacked up the car to remove the wheel and inspect all the bolts related to the brake, steering, axle, shock, etc. Everything is in place.

Then with the front on jackstands, I turned the motor on and engaged reverse. All was well, even when I turned the steering wheel back and forth.

Then I noticed after putting the wheel back on and tightening the lugs halfway while in the air, the wheel was tight but the whole unit wiggled. The driver side did not have nearly as much play when shaken.

My guess is the wheel bearing is going bad. My next guess is that I have to remove the knuckle and get a new bearing pressed in, but how can I check for sure?

By the way, this is on a 2000 Si with 198,283 miles.

 

sounds like the wheel bearing is dying. Grab the wheel with the car jacked up in the air and attempt to move it back and forth. Grasp the top and the bottom of the tire, not the sides. Check that way. Yes, it has to be removed to get a new bearing pressed in. Bearings are approx $80 the last time I had to buy them.

 

ok so i took your advice, jacked up the car and shook the wheel from top and bottom. oh crap. I think it's the bearing for sure!

 

so is part #2 all I need?

 

bump for confirmation

 

if you dont have the tools to access the bearing, take your assembly out and take it to a shop, much cheaper

 

oh absolutely. i do everything myself except when it comes to things like boring cylinders, pressing bearings and balljoints, etc. I'll drop the knuckle and bring it into work now that the guys in the shop have a press. only costs me beer.

 

I would use OEM bearings, just cause I've had shitty luck with auto parts store bearings.