Thread: front wheel play

i was installing new brakes when i noticed after i put back the wheel and tightened the lugs the front wheel felt like it was still loose.. what can this be?

wheel bearings

ditto

also check the axel bolt....as well as wwheel bearings...

one time my axel bolt was loose...thought it was bearings and just tighneted it up...no more noise or wierd click/thump

Thanx

Does it move side to side or up and down. If it's side to side it's probably a tie rod end. If it's up and down it's a wheel bearing. And usually a wheel bearing with play will make noise when driving, kind of a humming/buzzing type noise and it goes away when turning left or right. Usually, but not always.

also could be inner\outer tie rods or also bj's ....... mb take it to a front end shop they would tell you

Yup, grabbing the wheel top and bottom if you feel play that's the bearing, if you grab the wheel front/rear and wiggle and you feel play (and can often see it at the tie rod) then its the tie rod end.

I had my big axle nut come loose only about 1/4 of a turn, but it was enough to damage my bearing becuase i didn't catch it quick enough.

Anytime you remove the axle nut and put it back on, you want to check its tightness again after driving it.

^^^^ exactly why you need to double check work....one small thing can turn into antoher,