96' Accord- Bought the car awhile back and it developed a noise and I was told it was my rear wheel bearing. Bought a Hub Assembly for $70, installed it and the noise returned after 2 days of driving. Midas said there are cheap bearings, good ones, and very good ones all the way up to $150, I have the cheap ones. What about the spindle? Get the expensive bearing assembly? Any advice is appreciated, thanks guys.

 

cheap wheel bearings should be as good (and quiet) new out of the box as the most expensive. Longevity/durrability is what you're buying with the more expensive parts.

seems to me that you've not solved the original issue by replacing the bearing. what was it that originally led you to believe that the bearing needed replacement? could you describe the noise (type of sound, volume, when you can hear it, when you can't, related to specific speeds or directions...)?

EDIT: oh, I just noticed you said you "were told" you needed the bearing. who was it that told you this?

 

The noise stopped when first replaced the bearing. It was definetly the bearing or related. At different speeds it got louder and quieter. I put the old one back on and the noise dissapeared for a day, then returned with more driving. Also, did not have a torque wrench so that might be my problem? What about the spindle itself? How does it come apart? My book said that the torque should be 181 ft lbs. , sounds high to me.

 

Is it making the same sound with both sets of bearings ?

 

If you spin the wheels with them off the ground you will tell if it's a bad bearing because it will have play in it. Just compare it to the other wheels. Also, if you took the bearing out, you will be able to tell that it has play in it.

 

Yes it makes the same sound with both bearings. Up and down in revolutions and loudness with different speeds. Bearings seem good when off, and wheel spins freely when I first put it on, then after a short time the noise comes back. I'm wondering about the race, or spindle wear? Is that replacable? Will the torque rate be an issue? Thanks guys for the help.

 

I am really trying not to be crazy here, but could it be the front?

I changed my rear bearings before (they were loose) only to find out the front was causing the noise......

I have also started to change the bearings on a buddies car after he purchased them. After inspecting his bearings and test driving it the noise turned out to be a tire.

I know it is frustrating as hell, but try to eliminate all other possibilities if you have not already.

Not sure of the torque, seems high for a rear bearing (on my 99 the rear is 139). The rear bearing preload is set by the torque on the nut. If it is still torqued to that spec, drive it for a little while and feel the wheel for a lot of heat right after you park it.

 

It's not the front. I've had the rear off several times and each time I reassembly the noise is totally gone for a day or two. I think you are right on the torque, back to the drawing board, thanks for the response.

 

I am going to go against the beginning part of this statement, not because he's completely wrong, but because I went through the same issue as yourself not too long ago. I also purchased a wheel bearing set on eBay for $76 about a year ago. The hub and bearing were already pressed on and was just a matter of getting them on the knuckle. Thinking it was a sweet deal, I purchased them to try to fix the wheel bearing problem I had. I then got the bearings replaced and guess what? The noise and vibration was still not fixed, so I ASSUMED it was an axle problem. So I went and swapped the axles... and still had the same problem. At that point I was stumped and just gave up for some months and drove around like that until I finally got tired of the noise and then brought it to a mechanic. He said I had a wheel bearing issue replaced them again; no more noise! So don't overlook even your "new" parts, because even they can be defective!

 

Ok, best advice yet! Im gonna get the new bearings, torque to 139 as another poster stated, and see what happenes, even Midas {which Im leary of} said bearings are cheap. Why else would the price be from $55 to $177? Could you tell me how the axles come apart? Is it a scrapyard item?