Wheel bearing or ball joint?
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Abbby
- SSE Member

- Posts: 105
- Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 7:36 pm
- Year and Trim: 2003 SLE 208,000 miles
2003 SLE 196,000 miles
Wheel bearing or ball joint?
So 2003 with 98,000 miles has a front end vibration at 60-70MPH. Decided to check things out. Jacked up front wheels and right front is all tight. Left front tight when I try to wiggle right to left (3:00 and 9:00) But can feel play when I wiggle top to bottom (12:00 & 6:00). Trying to decide if it is ball joint or wheel bearing. Look close at ball joint when wiggling but my old eyes do not notoce anything. I beleive left front ball joint is known to go bad on these cause I already replaced on my other Bonnie. Any thoughts?
Re: Wheel bearing or ball joint?
I'd say ball joint as wheel bearings you would notice a wiggle in any direction you wiggle.
- nos4blood70
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 9522
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
- Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Wheel bearing or ball joint?
In my case, I had the same symptoms as the OP but it was the wheel bearing.Nocrank wrote:I'd say ball joint as wheel bearings you would notice a wiggle in any direction you wiggle.
Re: Wheel bearing or ball joint?
I guess it pays to have some muscle, and if not a pry bar.



