This is a big job that requires some special tools, so we want to be sure this is diagnosed properly. There's two ways to tell if a wheel bearing is noisy. My preferred method is to raise the tires off the ground, run the engine, in gear, then listen next to each front bearing with a stethoscope. This is much easier on a hoist. One bearing will make you wonder, but the noisy one will be evident by the loud growling noise. Also, you can't usually go by which side it sounds like the noise is coming from. Noises like these transfer from side to side. Chrysler and GM use a bolt-on bearing assembly, so if you replace the wrong one, you just put the old one on the other side. Ford uses a pressed-in bearing design that must destroy the bearing to remove it, so if you replace the wrong one, you have to buy two new bearings. The good news is this style of bearing is less expensive than the bolt-on style.
Another way to identify a noisy wheel bearing is to again, raise the tires off the ground with the car supported solidly on jack stands under the frame. That allows the suspension to hang down giving you more working room. Reach over the top of the tire and lightly wrap your fingertips around part of the coil spring. Now, with your other hand, rotate the tire. If that wheel bearing is noisy, you'll feel the vibration in the spring.
Here's links to some dandy related articles:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/7-common-symptoms-of-a-bad-automotive-bearing-hub
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/bearing-hub-replacement
The second article pertains to a bolted-in bearing, but the preliminary steps are the same. There is also a video:
https://youtu.be/qOAyXfPo7Z0
that shows the same information. There is no video for your pressed-in bearing design because this really isn't a do-it-yourselfer type of job. The instructions below are from Ford. There is a tool set that allows this job to be done with the knuckle still on the car. That way, the knuckle isn't moved, so no alignment is necessary after the service. I have that tool set, but I can't find a photo of it to post.
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Sunday, May 11th, 2025 AT 8:06 PM