Thread: Hub/Bearing Assembly problem?

2005 Pontiac Grand Prix - 3.8 engine, 105K miles

A couple of months ago I was getting new tires and they told me I need new hub bearings on the front (both sides). We jacked up the vehicle and tried to move the tires and didn't feel any play.

A couple of days ago I was coming to a stop and it felt like the left front brakes didn't quite "catch" for a few seconds. I didn't think much about it because it was pretty cold and wet out.

Today I noticed a sound coming from the left front area when I am coming to a stop or just taking off. It is a kind of creaking noise that stops once I get up to about 10 mph. The sound is worse when I turn right and there is no sound when I turn left. I'm thinking it is the bearings. Does that sound like a bearing issue?

We are going to change it ourselves and I'm wondering if anyone has some advice or directions on changing the hub assembly on this vehicle and also wonder if there is anything else I should be changing at the same time or should look to see if it needs to be replaced based on the symptoms I described.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by JulieC

2005 Pontiac Grand Prix - 3.8 engine, 105K miles

A couple of months ago I was getting new tires and they told me I need new hub bearings on the front (both sides). We jacked up the vehicle and tried to move the tires and didn't feel any play.

A couple of days ago I was coming to a stop and it felt like the left front brakes didn't quite "catch" for a few seconds. I didn't think much about it because it was pretty cold and wet out.

Today I noticed a sound coming from the left front area when I am coming to a stop or just taking off. It is a kind of creaking noise that stops once I get up to about 10 mph. The sound is worse when I turn right and there is no sound when I turn left. I'm thinking it is the bearings. Does that sound like a bearing issue?

We are going to change it ourselves and I'm wondering if anyone has some advice or directions on changing the hub assembly on this vehicle and also wonder if there is anything else I should be changing at the same time or should look to see if it needs to be replaced based on the symptoms I described.

Any advice would be appreciated.

The noise could be a bearing. The brakes feeling like they didn't catch could be too, but I woulda expected some noise from the ABS at the same time. An electric "pump" noise, like when you try to lock up your brakes in dirt or water.

Buy bearing made in the USA only. Imported bearings are crap and have a high failure rate. The labor for these things is only 1.4 hrs. for doing both, so paying a pro to install them isn't a whole lot. If you have the tools needed and can get the car up off the ground, you should be able to do them in a couple hours.

NO NO FIXED BUY TIMKEN!! National bearings BLOW !
That is all

Thanks! Actually I think there was a noise when the brakes felt like they didn't catch the other day but I wasn't really thinking about it at the time. I went and got new hub assemblies for both front sides tonight. I noticed the noise didn't happen until I had driven a little bit and then it made it on right hand turns and a little bit when stopping at a light. Going to change them tomorrow. Hopefully they won't be too tough. We changed them on my son's Dodge Ram and almost never got the large hub nut off.

Anything else that we should be looking for that could be the problem? I hope the Moog ones are okay, that was the best they had up at the parts store. The others were DriveWorks.

I should clarify too that the reason we didn't change them right away was because the place that said we needed them was a new tire place I went to and I was not at all impressed with. I had the car in for an alignment at a local place about 4 months ago and they didn't find any problems with the hub assemblies. The noise just started today.

If you don't have access to an impact wrench have somebody push down the brake pedal while you remove the axle nut. This way you'll only spin the nut.

Moog will be a national hub. There is usually identification on the hub, a stamp, that tells you where it was made.

Thanks for the advice especially about the axle nut. One of them came off too easily. The other one was on very tight. We changed the hub assemblies and it took care of the grinding. Unfortunately there is still a squeaking, creaking noise when I turn right. It kind of sounds like a mount of some kind. We are going to jack it back up tomorrow morning and look under the front to see if we can find what is making the noise.

Originally Posted by JulieC

Thanks for the advice especially about the axle nut. One of them came off too easily. The other one was on very tight. We changed the hub assemblies and it took care of the grinding. Unfortunately there is still a squeaking, creaking noise when I turn right. It kind of sounds like a mount of some kind. We are going to jack it back up tomorrow morning and look under the front to see if we can find what is making the noise.

I have a 2005 Grand Prix also and the same noise. What is causing mine is the rubber boot on the tie rod end which is not completely cracked but is worn and brittle and it does not keep lubricated. We added some lubrication a few months ago and it went away but now it is doing it again. It sounds kind of like an old rocking horse. Check the rubber boots and see if they are brittle and getting dry. Hope you find it.

I put hub assemblies on the front last year and they are worn out again. My drivers side tire has some play in it but not much on the passenger side. I can't remember what brand but I'm trying the Moog this time.