Diagnosis of a bad wheel bearing

This video shows how we diagnose bad wheel bearings using a stethoscope I was able to hold the stethoscope to the speaker on my phone and it worked out well you can easily tell the difference if you turn your volume up.

[keithwhite]

I am a retired millwright of over 30 years. I bought a stethoscope from snap on within my first year. They are so so useful. Diagnosed many issues without the just replace or break everything down method. Great for really ANY tool box.

[bokneeza]

No need for that. You could hear mine coming down the Highway. Sounds like a jeep tailgating me everywhere I go 😂

[BGLM]

Pro tip: when diagnosing a wheel bearing, place your hand on the coil spring and spin the wheel by hand. If it feels gritty you've found your bad bearing.

[JamesSmith-jqjc]

Everyone is hating on them for using this method to find what is said to be easy to hear and find. Well, maybe, someone might see this and realize it's a great way to pinpoint noises in all kinds of locations.

[donmit]

I freaking love that method it's easy to diagnose a wheel bearing because they usually make a shitload of noise but you never know what side is bad

[snerby]

The stethoscope is the most precise way I've found.

Good work on the audio; the noise comes through well 👍

[maxpower]

I been doing this a VERY long time, the stethoscope works but so does a long screwdriver, just put your ear to it and you hear everything 👍 I told a friend of mine about that trick so he used it to find a noise in his ac compressor except he put the screwdriver on the ac clutch put his ear to it AND IT CYCLED ON💥👂 needless to say he got punched in the ear by a flathead lol

[danfarris]

Hard part is holding on at that speed when you don’t have a lift

[oneboost]

I have never diagnosed it with that method. I usually put the transmission in neutral, lift vehicle above the ground, hold on to coil spring with one hand spin the tire with other hand. If I feel some sort of vibration in the coil spring, I would suspect that particular wheel bearing is bad.

[peteashleyleavell]

Just put your hand on the spring and you can feel the difference between the lf rf or rr lr

[MechaniclifeJDM]

For those with no lift
Do circles in a parking lot
Go left, go right, faster wheel is on the outside of the turn

[n_vel]

I've never seen this tool in my life and I don't know how I been living the past 18 years without knowing. But damn that is handy

[Mrwinecontreras]

This is exactly how my car sounds… just the video I needed it…thanks

[malcolmskinner]

Hey thanks thats exactly what my car sounds like. 👍

[jeremypike]

I've never actually used a stethoscope I always use my 2 foot long door trim fastener tool. It works just the same instead of having the buds in your ears you put the handle up to your ear and press firmly. This also works well with an extra long screw driver.

[ifixboats]

Put your hand on the spring. Just spin the tire. The spring amplifies the feel of the bad bearing

[anonymousrydr]

This guy really went full doctor on probably the most easy vehicle diagnosis. You can be deaf and still figure it out

[joe-serioushoward]

Cool. I’ve always just felt for heat. Bad bearing usually heats up.

[GT-]

Standing on your head while clapping your hands and jumping up and down at the same time is a whole lot easier, best way I've found to diagnose a non faulty wheel bearing.

[paulmarriott]

I love those things. A Lot of people talk shit about them, but if used properly it'll let you know if a bearing is going bad before it actually fails!!!!