Suspect hub bearings

[billet_07]

I have an '07 EXL 2wd with 53K Miles. I suspect I have a bad hub(unit) bearing in the left front. After replacing the tires(worn) and a follow-up rebalance, I'm still having more road noise and vibration than seems usual. The noise sounds like tire noise but it worse during low-speed turns. At highway speeds there seems to be a vibration that is related to tire speed but does not feel like the usual tire imbalance - it's more of a roaring sound. Neither front wheel seemed loose when I grabbed the tire on the jack stands

Is there a good way to diagnose bearings? Are they a DIY item or best left to a shop? I've done fluid changes, brake pads and installed the tow hitch but nothing more difficult.

Thanks,

Joe

[hkellogg]

You really can't diagnose hub bearings, you usually tell by the noise, they typically don't cause vibration and I velieve it's a sealed hub unit not replaceable bearings you have to replace the whole hub assembly. 53,000 sounds awfully suspect for a bad hub assembly to me. I would check your rotors and make sure they aren't warped first

[whizmo]

You symptoms sound exactly like a bad wheel bearing to me. I'd let the dealer or independent mechanic do this as it is an easy job with proper tools and a PITA without.

- Mark

[billet_07]

10-4

[LetsGo]

You may be able to identify it by listening to the sound while turning. When I've had this problem in the past (with other cars than the Pilot), it's been a low growling kind of sound that was most evident at 35+ MPH. Once you can reproduce the sound, pay attention to how loud it is when you follow a curve. The bad bearing is the one on the opposite side of the direction that made it louder. So if it's louder when following a curve to the right, it's the left side bearing that's bad, and vice versa.

I don't know about the Pilot bearings specifically, but I think a lot of newer cars use replaceable bearings that are sealed units. You may not have to replace the hub, but just the sealed bearing unit. It will probably have an electrical connector for the ABS/traction system.

Anyway, hope that helps somehow. Let us know what you find out and how you fix it. Good luck.

[hkellogg]

For an 07 it is a sealed bearing. If it is bad it has to be pressed out and a new one pressed into hub.

[harley909]

The way to confirm it is wheel bearing noise is this;
Drive down the highway gently (but surely) swerve to the right then straight then to the left. Wheel bearing noise will go away as you turn the wheel...in otherwords the "groan" will lessen as you sway either way.
I had to replace both rear wheel bearings in my 2003 Pilot. I made the mistake of doing one side (as I thought it was just the one side) and then going back and getting the other done a few months later. If one side is gone chances are the other is.
In Canada the Dealer charged about $425 to change the wheel bearing on each side, all parts included. The sealed bearing is pressed in and has to be pulled out of the "hub" . They have to take the whole wheel apart including brakes, rotor etc to get at it.